THE 

YOfJNGBUGLERS 


a°o 


>  V- 


UNIV.  OF  CALIF.  LIBRARY,  'LOS  ANGELES 


P 


THE  BOYS  ANXIOUSLY  WATCHED  THE  COURSE  OF  THE  VESSEL. 

Page  107. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


A  TALE  OF  THE  PENINSULAR  WAR. 


BY  G.  A.  HENTY, 

Author  of  "Bonnie  Prince  Charlie,"  "True  to  the  Old  Flag," 

"The  Toung  Carthaginian,"  "In  Freedom's 

Cause,"  etc.,  etc. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS, 
52-58  DUANE  STBEET,  NEW  YORK. 


Stack 
Annex 

PR 


mo 

PREFACE. 


MY  DEAE  LADS  :  I  remember  that,  as  a  boy,  I 
regarded  any  attempt  to  mix  instruction  with 
amusement  as  being  as  objectionable  a  practice  as 
the  administration  of  powder  in  jam ;  but  I  think 
that  this  feeling  arose  from  the  fact  that  in  those 
days  books  contained  a  very  small  share  of  amuse- 
ment and  a  very  large  share  of  instruction.  I  have 
endeavored  to  avoid  this,  and  I  hope  that  the  ac- 
counts of  battles  and  sieges,  illustrated  as  they  are 
by  maps,  will  be  found  as  interesting  as  the  lighter 
parts  of  the  story.  As  in  my  tale,  "  The  Young 
Franc-Tireurs,"  1  gave  the  outline  of  the  Franco- 
German  war,  so  I  have  now  endeavored  to  give  the 
salient  features  of  the  great  Peninsular  struggle. 
The  military  facts,  with  the  names  of  generals  and 
regiments,  the  dates  and  places,  are  all  strictly 
accurate,  and  any  one  who  has  read  with  care  the 
story  of  "  The  Young  Buglers"  could  pass  an  ex- 
amination as  to  the  leading  events  of  the  Peninsular 
war. 

Yours  truly, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  L 
A  Coaching  Adventure 1 

CHAPTER  IL 
Two  Young  Pickles 25 

CHAPTER  HI. 
Enlisted 46 

CHAPTER  IV. 
A  Tough  Customer. 70 

CHAPTER  V. 
Overboard 91 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Portugal 114 

CHAPTER  VH. 
The  Passage  of  the  Douro — Talavera 128 

CHAPTER  VHL 
A  Pause  in  Operations 157 

CHAPTER  IX. 
With  the  Guerrillas 171 

CHAPTER  X. 
Madrid 199 

CHAPTER  XL 
The  Fight  on  the  Coa. ......  214 


vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Busaco  and  Torres  Vedras 237 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Albuera 253 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Invalided  Home 277 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Ciudad  Rodrigo  and  Badajos 291 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Salamanca 317 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Caught  in  a  Trap 332 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Just  in  Time 351 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Vittoria 373 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Toulouse..  .  396 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A   COACHING   ADVENTURE. 

HAD  any  of  the  boys  in  the  lower  forms  of  Eton 
in  the  year  1808  been  asked  who  were  the  most 
popular  boys  of  their  own  age,  they  would  have 
been  almost  sure  to  have  answered,  without  the 
slightest  hesitation,  Tom  and  Peter  Scudamore,  and 
yet  it  is  probable  that  no  two  boys  were  more  often 
in  disgrace.  It  was  not  that  they  were  idle ;  upon 
the  contrary,  both  were  fairly  up  in  their  respective 
forms,  but  they  were  constantly  getting  into  mis- 
chief of  one  sort  or  another ;  yet  even  with  the 
masters  they  were  favorites,  there  was  never  any- 
thing low,  disgraceful,  or  ungentlemanly  in  their 
escapades,  and  they  could  be  trusted  never  to 
attempt  to  screen  themselves  from  the  consequences 
by  prevarication,  much  less  by  lying.  If  the 
masters  heard  that  a  party  of  youngsters  had  been 
seen  far  out  of  bounds,  they  were  pretty  sure  that 
the  Scudamores  were  among  them ;  if  a  farmer  came 
in  from  a  distance  to  complain  that  his  favorite  tree 
had  been  stripped  of  its  apples — for  in  those  days 


2  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

apples  were  looked  upon  by  boys  as  fair  objects  of 
sport — if  the  head-master's  favorite  white  poodle 
appeared  dyed  a  deep  blue,  if  Mr.  Jones,  the  most 
unpopular  master  in  the  school,  upon  coming  out  of 
his  door,  trod  upon  a  quantity  of  tallow  smeared  all 
over  the  doorstep,  and  was  laid  up  for  a  week  in 
consequence,  there  was  generally  a  strong  suspicion 
that  Tom  and  Peter  Scudamore  were  concerned  in 
the  matter.  One  of  their  tricks  actually  came  to 
the  ears  of  the  provost  himself,  and  caused  quite  a 
sensation  in  the  place,  but  in  this  case,  fortunately 
for  them,  they  escaped  undetected. 

One  fine  summer  afternoon  they  were  out  on  the 
water  with  two  or  three  other  boys  of  their  own 
age,  when  a  barge  was  seen  ahead  at  some  short 
distance  from  the  shore.  She  was  apparently 
floating  down  with  the  stream,  and  the  fact  that  a 
horse  was  proceeding  along  the  towing-path  a  little 
way  ahead  was  not  noticed,  as  the  rope  was  slack 
and  was  trailing  under  water.  The  boys,  therefore, 
as  they  were  rowing  against  stream,  steered  their 
boat  to  pass  inside  of  her.  Just  as  they  came 
abreast  of  the  horse  a  man  on  the  barge  suddenly 
shouted  to  the  rider  of  the  horse  to  go  on.  He  did 
so,  the  rope  tightened,  rose  from  the  water  just 
under  the  bow  of  the  boat,  and  in  another  minute 
the  boys  were  struggling  in  the  water.  All  were 
good  swimmers,  and  would  have  cared  little  for  the 
ducking  had  it  occurred  accidentally,  but  the  roars 
of  laughter  of  the  bargeman,  and  the  chaff  with 
which  he  assailed  them  as  they  scrambled  up  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  3 

bank,  showed  clearly  enough  that  they  had  been 
upset  maliciously.  The  boys  were  furious,  and  one 
or  two  proposed  that  they  should  report  the  case, 
but  Tom  Scudamore  pointed  out  that  the  bargeman 
would  of  course  declare  that  it  was  a  pure  accident, 
and  that  the  boys  were  themselves  in  fault  in  not 
looking  out  whether  the  barge  was  being  towed, 
before  going  inside  her,  and  so  nothing  would  come 
of  reporting. 

The  boat  was  dragged  ashore  and  emptied,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  they  were  rowing  back  toward  the 
town.  The  distance  was  but  short,  and  they  did 
not  repass  the  barge  before  they  reached  their  boat- 
house.  The  brothers  had  exchanged  a  few  words 
in  a  low  voice  on  the  way,  and  instead  of  following 
the  example  of  the  others,  and  starting  at  a  run  for 
the  house  where  they  boarded  to  change  their, 
clothes,  they  walked  down  by  the  river  and  saw 
that  the  barge  had  moored  up  against  the  bank,  at 
a  short  distance  below  the  bridge.  They  watched 
for  a  time,  and  saw  the  bargeman  fasten  up  the 
hatch  of  the  little  cabin  and  go  ashore. 

That  night  two  boys  lowered  themselves  with  a 
rope  from  the  window  of  one  of  the  dames-houses, 
and  walked  rapidly  down  to  the  river.  There  were 
a  few  flickering  oil  lamps  burning,  and  the  one  or 
two  old  watchmen  were  soundly  asleep  in  their 
boxes.  They  did  not  meet  a  soul  moving  upon 
their  way  to  the  object  of  the  expedition,  the  barge 
that  had  run  them  down.  Very  quietly  they 
slipped  on  board,  satisfied  themselves  by  listening 


4  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

at  the  half-open  hatch  to  the  snoring  within  that 
their  enemy  was  there,  then  loosened  the  moorings 
so  that  they  could  be  thrown  off  at  a  moment's 
notice. 

"  Now,  Peter,"  the  elder  brother  said,  "  open  our 
lantern.  The  night  is  quite  still.  You  hold  your 
hand  behind  it,  so  that  the  light  will  not  fall  on  our 
faces,  and  I  will  look  whether  he  is  only  wrapped 
up  in  a  blanket  or  has  a  regular  bed  ;  we  must  not 
risk  setting  the  place  on  fire.  Get  the  crackers 
ready." 

A  dark  lantern  was  now  taken  out  from  under 
Tom's  jacket,  and  was  found  to  be  still  alight,  an 
important  matter,  for  striking  a  light  with  flint 
and  steel  was  in  those  days  a  long  and  tedious  busi- 

v 

ness,  and  then  opening  it  Tom  threw  the  light  into 
the  cabin.  It  was  a  tiny  place,  and  upon  a  bench, 
wrapped  up  in  a  blanket,  the  bargeman  was  lying. 
As  the  light  fell  on  his  eyes  he  moved,  and  a 
moment  afterward  started  up  with  an  oath,  and 
demanded  who  was  there. 

No  answer  came  in  words,  but  half  a  dozen 
lighted  crackers  were  thrown  into  the  cabin,  when 
they  began  to  explode  with  a  tremendous  uproar. 
In  an  instant  the  hatch  was  shut  down  and  fastened 
outside.  The  rope  was  cast  off,  and  in  another 
minute  she  was  floating  down  stream  with  the 
crackers  still  exploding  inside  her,  but  with  their 
noise  almost  deadened  by  the  tremendous  outcry  of 
shouts  and  howls,  and  by  a  continued  and  furious 
banging  at  the  hatch. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  5 

"  There  is  no  fear  of  his  being  choked,  Tom,  I 
hope  ?" 

"  No,  I  expect  he's  all  right,"  Tom  said,  "  it  will 
be  pretty  stifling  for  a  bit,  no  doubt,  but  there's  a 
chimney  hole  and  the  smoke  will  find  its  way  out 
presently.  The  barge  will  drift  down  to  the  weir 
before  it  brings  up ;  there  is  not  enough  stream  out 
for  there  to  be  any  risk  of  her  upsetting,  else  we 
daren't  have  turned  her  adrift." 

The  next  day  the  whole  town  was  talking  of  the 
affair,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  bargeman  went  up 
to  the  head-master  and  accused  one  of  the  boys  of 
an  attempt  to  murder  him. 

Greatly  surprised,  the  provost  demanded  what 
reason  the  man  had  for  suspecting  the  boys,  and 
the  bargeman  acknowledged  that  he  had  that  after- 
noon upset  a  boat  with  four  or  five  boys  in  her. 
"  They  would  not  bear  you  malice  on  that  account," 
the  provost  said ;  "  they  don't  think  much  of  a 
swim  such  weather  as  this,  unless  indeed  you  did  it 
on  purpose." 

The  man  hesitated  in  his  answer,  and  the  provost 
continued,  "  You  evidently  did  do  it  on  purpose, 
and  in  that  case,  although  it  was  carried  too  far, 
for  I  hear  you  had  a  very  narrow  escape  of  being 
stifled,  still  you  brought  it  upon  yourself,  and  I 
hope  it  will  be  a  lesson  to  you  not  to  risk  the  lives 
of  Eton  boys  for  your  amusement.  I  know  nothing 
about  this  affair,  but  if  you  can  point  out  the  boys 
you  suspect  I  will  of  course  inquire  into  it." 

The  bargeman  departed,  grumbling  that  he  did 


6  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

not  know  one  of  the  young  imps  from  another,  but 
if  he  did  find  them,  he'd  wring  their  necks  for  them 
to  a  certainty.  The  provost  had  some  inquiries 
made  as  to  the  boys  who  had  been  upset,  and 
whether  they  had  all  been  in  at  lock-up  time  ;  find- 
ing that  they  had  all  answered  to  their  names,  ho 
made  no  further  investigation. 

This  affair  had  taken  place  in  the  summer  before 
this  story  begins,  on  the  loth  of  October,  1808.  On 
that  day  a  holiday  was  granted  in  consequence  of 
the  head-master's  birthday,  and  the  boys  set  off, 
some  to  football,  some  for  long  walks  in  the 
country. 

The  Scudamores,  with  several  of  their  friends, 
strolled  down  the  towing-path  for  some  miles,  and 
walked  back  by  the  road.  As  they  entered  their 
dames-house  on  their  return,  Tom  Scudamore  said 
for  the  twentieth  time,  "Well,  I  would  give  any- 
thing to  be  a  soldier,  instead  of  having  to  go  in  and 
settle  down  as  a  banker — it's  disgusting !" 

As  they  entered  a  boy  came  up.  "Oh,  Scuda- 
more, Jackson's  been  asking  for  you  both.  It's 
something  particular,  for  he  has  been  out  three  or 
four  times,  and  he  wanted  to  send  after  you,  but  no 
one  knew  where  you  had  gone." 

The  boys  at  once  went  into  the  master's  study, 
where  they  remained  all  the  afternoon.  A  short 
time  after  they  went  in  Mr.  Jackson  came  out  and 
said  a  word  or  two  to  one  of  the  senior  boys,  and 
the  word  was  quickly  passed  round  that  there  was 
to  be  no  row,  for  the  Scudarnores  had  just  heard  of 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  7 

the  sudden  death  of  their  father.  That  evening 
Mr.  Jackson  had  beds  made  up  for  them  in  his 
study,  so  that  they  might  not  have  the  pain  of  hav- 
ing to  talk  with  the  other  boys.  The  housekeeper 
packed  up  their  things,  and  next  morning  early  they 
started  by  the  coach  for  London. 

Mr.  Scudamore,  the  father  of  the  young  Etonians, 
was  a  banker.  He  was  the  elder  of  two  brothers, 
and  had  inherited  his  father's  business,  while  his 
brother  had  gone  into  the  army.  The  banker  had 
married  the  daughter  of  a  landowner  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  had  lived  happily  and  prosperously 
until  her  death,  seven  years  before  this  story  begins. 
She  had  borne  him  three  children,  the  two  boys, 
now  fifteen  and  fourteen  years  old  respectively,  and 
a  girl,  Rhoda,  two  years  younger  than  Peter.  The 
loss  of  his  wife  afflicted  him  greatly,  and  he  received 
another  shock  five  years  later  by  the  death  of  his 
brother,  Colonel  Scudamore,  to  whom  he  was  much 
attached.  From  the  time  of  his  wife's  death  he  had 
greatly  relaxed  in  his  attention  to  his  business,  and 
after  his  brother's  death  he  left  the  management 
almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of  his  cashier,  in  whom 
he  had  unlimited  confidence.  This  confidence  was 
wholly  misplaced.  For  years  the  cashier  had  been 
carrying  on  speculation  upon  his  own  account  with 
the  moneys  of  the  bank.  Gradually  and  without 
exciting  the  least  suspicion  he  had  realized  the 
various  securities  held  by  the  bank,  and  at  last, 
gathering  all  the  available  cash  he,  one  Saturday 
afternoon,  locked  up  the  bank  and  fled. 


8  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

On  Monday  it  was  found  that  he  was  missing ; 
Mr.  Scudamore  went  down  to  the  bank,  and  had 
the  books  taken  into  his  parlor  for  examination. 
Some  hours  afterward  a  clerk  went  in  and  found 
his  master  lying  back  in  his  chair  insensible.  A 
doctor  on  arriving  pronounced  it  to  be  apoplexy. 
He  never  rallied,  and  a  few  hours  afterward  the 
news  spread  through  the  country  that  Scudamore, 
the  banker,  was  dead,  and  that  the  bank  had  stopped 
payment. 

People  could  believe  the  former  item  of  news,  but 
were  incredulous  as  to  the  latter.  Scudamore's 
bank  was  looked  upon  in  Lincolnshire  as  at  least  as 
safe  as  the  Bank  of  England  itself.  But  the  sad 
truth  was  soon  clear  to  all,  and  for  awhile  there 
was  great  distress  of  mind  among  the  people  for 
many  miles  round,  for  most  of  them  had  intrusted 
all  their  savings  of  years  to  the  Scudamore's  bank. 
When  affairs  were  wound  up,  however,  it  was  found 
that  things  were  not  quite  so  bad  as  had  been 
feared.  Mr.  Scudamore  had  a  considerable  capital 
employed  in  the  bank,  and  the  sale  of  his  handsome 
house  and  estate  realized  a  large  sum,  so  that  even- 
tually every  one  received  back  the  money  they  had 
intrusted  to  the  bank  ;  but  the  whole  of  the  capital 
and  the  profits  of  years  of  successful  enterprise  had 
vanished,  and  it  was  calculated  by  the  executors 
that  the  swindler  must  have  appropriated  at  least 
eighty  thousand  pounds. 

For  the  first  month  after  their  father's  death  the 
boys  stayed  with  the  doctor  who  had  long  attended 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  9 

the  family  and  had  treated  all  their  ailments  since 
they  were  born.  In  the  great  loss  of  their  father 
the  loss  of  their  fortune  aifected  them  but  little, 
except  that  they  were  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  leave 
Eton;  for  the  interest  of  the  little  fortune  which 
their  mother  had  brought  at  her  marriage,  and 
which  was  all  that  now  remained  to  them,  would 
not  have  been  sufficient  to  pay  for  their  expenses 
there ;  and  indeed  such  an  education  would  have 
been  out  of  place  for  two  boys  who  had  to  make 
their  own  way  in  life.  At  the  end  of  this  month 
it  was  arranged  that  they  were  to  go  to  their  only 
existing  relative,  an  elder  sister  of  Mr.  Scudamore. 
The  boys  had  never  seen  he.,  for  she  had  not  for 
many  years  been  friends  with  her  brother. 

The  letter  which  she  had  written  to  the  doctor, 
announcing  her  willingness  to  receive  them,  made 
the  boys  laugh,  although  it  did  not  hold  out  pros- 
pects of  a  very  pleasant  f  uture,,  "  I  am,  of  course," 
she  said,  "  prepared  to  do  my  duty.  No  one  can 
say  that  I  have  ever  failed  in  my  duty.  My  poor 
brother  quarreled  with  me.  It  was  his  duty  to 
apologize.  He  did  not  do  so.  Had  it  been  my  duty 
to,  apologize  I  should  have  done  so.  As  I  was 
right,  and  he  was'  wrong,  it  was  clearly  not  my 
duty.  I  shall  now  do  my  duty  to  my  niece  and 
nephews.  Yet  I  may  be  allowed  to  say  that  I 
regret  much  that  they  are  not  all  nieces.  I  do  not  like 
boys.  They  are  always  noisy,  and  not  always  clean. 
They  do  not  wipe  their  shoes;  they  are  always 
breaking  things;  they  go  about  with  all  sorts  of 


10  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

rubbish  and  dirt  in  their  pockets;  their  hair  is 
always  rough  ;  they  are  fond  of  worrying  cats,  and 
other  cruel  games.  Altogether  they  are  objection- 
able. Had  my  brother  made  up  his  mind  to  leave 
his  children  in  my  charge,  it  was  clearly  his  duty  to 
have  had  girls  instead  of  boys.  However,  it  is  not 
because  other  people  fail  in  their  duty  that  I  should 
fail  in  mine.  Therefore  let  them  come  to  me  this 
day  fortnight.  By  that  time  I  shall  have  got  some 
strong  and  suitable  furniture  in  the  room  that  my 
nephews  will  occupy,  and  shall  have  time  to  make 
other  arrangements.  This  letter  will,  if  all  goes 
well,  reach  you,  I  believe,  in  three  days  after  the 
date  of  posting,  and  they  will  take  the  same  time 
coming  here.  Assure  them  that  I  am  prepared  to 
do  my  duty,  and  that  I  hope  that  they  will  make  a 
serious  effort  at  doing  theirs.  Ask  my  nephews, 
upon  the  occasion  of  their  first  arrival,  to  make  as 
little  noise  as  they  can,  because  my  cat,  Minnie,  is 
very  shy,  and  if  she  is  scared  at  the  first  meeting 
she  will  take  a  very  long  time  to  get  accustomed  to 
them.  1  also  particularly  beg  that  they  do  not,  as 
they  come  up  to  the  house,  throw  stones  at  any  of 
the  pigeons  who  may  be  resting  upon  the  roof,  for 
the  slates  were  all  set  right  a  few  weeks  ago,  and  I 
am  sure  I  do  not  wish  to  have  the  slater  here  again  ; 
they  were  hanging  about  for  ten  days  the  last  time 
they  came.  I  do  not  know  that  I  have  anything 
else  to  say." 

The  boys  received  the  reading  of  this  singular 
epistle  with  shouts  of  laughter. 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  11 

"  Poor  aunt,"  Tom  said.  "  "What  does  she  think 
of  us  that  she  can  suppose  that,  upon  our  very  first 
arrival,  we  should  come  in  like  wild  Indians,  throw- 
ing stones  at  her  pigeons,  and  frightening  her 
Minnie  into  fits.  Did  you  ever  hear  such  an  ex- 
traordinary idea,  Dr.  Jarvis  ?" 

"  At  any  rate,  boys,"  the  doctor  said,  when  the 
laughter  had  ceased,  "  you  may  find  your  aunt  a 
little  peculiar,  but  she  is  evidently  determined  to 
do  her  duty  to  you,  and  you  must  do  yours  to  her, 
and  not  play  more  pranks  than  you  can  help.  As 
to  you,  Rhoda,  you  will  evidently  be  in  high 
favor,  and  as  you  are  fortunately  a  quiet  little  lady, 
you  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  get  on  with  her  very 
well." 

"  I  hope  so,"  Rhoda  said,  smiling ;  "  you  see  she 
means  to  be  kind,  though  she  does  write  funny 
letters,  and,  at  any  rate,  there  are  Minnie  and  the 
pigeons  ;  it  sounds  nice,  you  know.  Do  you  know 
what  aunt's  place  is  like,  Dr.  Jarvis,  and  how  to 
get  there  from  here  ?" 

"  No,  my  dear,  I  never  was  in  that  part  of  Eng- 
land, It  is  close  to  Marlborough  that  she  lives,  a 
very  pretty  country,  I  believe.  There  is,  of  course, 
no  way  to  go  across  from  here.  You  must  go  up 
to  London  by  coach  from  here,  and  then  to  Marl- 
borough  by  the  western  coach.  I  will  write  to  my 
brother  James  in  town,  where  you  stopped  a  night 
as  you  came  through,  boys,  and  I  know  that  he  will 
take  you  all  in  for  the  night,  and  see  that  you  go 
off  right  in  the  morning." 


12  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"You're  very  kind,  indeed,  Dr.  Jarvis.  I  do  not 
known  how  to  thank  you  for  all  you  have  done  for 
us,"  Tom  said  earnestly,  and  the  others  cordially 
echoed  the  sentiment. 

The  day  before  starting  the  doctor  had  a  long 
talk  with  the  boys.  He  pointed  out  to  them  that 
their  future  now  depended  upon  themselves  alone. 
They  must  expect  to  find  many  unpleasantnesses  in 
their  way,  but  they  must  take  their  little  trials 
pleasantly,  and  make  the  best  of  everything.  "  I 
have  no  fear  as  to  Rhoda,"  their  kind  friend  said. 
"  She  has  that  happy,  amiable,  and  quiet  disposi- 
tion that  is  sure  to  adapt  itself  to  all  circumstances. 
I  have  no  doubt  she  will  become  a  favorite  with 
your  aunt.  Try  to  keep  out  of  scrapes,  boys.  You 
know  you  are  rather  fond  of  mischief,  and  your 
aunt  will  not  be  able  to  understand  it.  If  you  get 
into  any  serious  difficulty  write  to  me  ;  you  can  rely 
upon  always  finding  a  friend  in  me." 

The  journey  to  London  was  no  novelty  to  the 
boys,  but  Rhoda  enjoyed  it  immensely.  Her  place 
had  been  taken  inside,  but  most  of  the  journey  she 
rode  outside  with  her  brothers.  She  was  greatly 
amazed  at  the  bustle  and  noise  of  London,  and  was 
quite  confused  at  the  shouting  and  crowd  at  the 
place  where  the  coach  drew  up,  for  two  or  three 
other  coaches  had  just  arrived  from  other  direc- 
tions. Mr.  Jarvis  had  sent  his  man  servant  to  meet 
them,  their  luggage  was  sent  direct  to  the  booking- 
office  from  which  the  coach  started  for  Marl- 
borough,  and  the  servant  carried  a  small  bag  con- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  13 

taining  their  night  things.  It  was  evening  when 
they  got  in,  and  Rhoda  could  scarcely  keep  her 
eyes  open  long  enough  to  have  tea,  for  the  coach 
had  been  two  days  and  nights  upon  the  road.  The 
next  day  they  stayed  in  town,  and  Mrs.  Jarvis  took 
them  out  to  see  the  sights  of  London — the  Tower, 
and  St.  Paul's,  and  Westminster  •  Abbey,  and  the 
beasts  at  Exeter  Change.  The  boys  had  twice  be- 
fore spent  a  whole  day  in  London,  their  father 
having,  upon  two  occasions,  made  his  visits  to  town 
fit  in  with  their  going  up  to  school,  but  to  Rhoda 
it  was  all  new,  and  very,  very  wonderful. 

The  next  day  the  coach  started  early  for  Marl- 
borough.  It  was  to  take  rather  over  twenty- 
four  hours  on  the  way.  As  before,  Rhoda  rode 
outside  with  her  brothers  until  the  evening,  but 
then,  instead  of  going  inside,  where  there  were  five 
passengers  already,  she  said,  as  the  night  was  so 
fine  and  warm,  she  would  rather  remain  with  them. 
They  were  sitting  behind  the  coachman,  there  were 
two  male  passengers  upon  the  same  seat  with  them, 
and  another  in  the  box  seat  by  the  coachman.  The 
conversation  turned,  as  in  those  days  it  was  pretty 
sure  to  turn,  upon  highwaymen.  Several  coaches 
had  been  lately  stopped  by  three  highwaymen,  who 
worked  together,  and  were  reported  to  be  more 
reckless  and  desperate  than  the  generality  of  their 
sort.  They  had  shot  a  coachman  who  refused  to 
stop,  the  week  before  on  Hounslow  Heath,  they  had 
killed  a  guard  on  the  great  north  road,  and  they 
had  shot  two  passengers,  who  resisted,  near  Exeter, 


14  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Tom  and  Peter  were  greatly  amused  by  observing 
that  the  passenger  who  sat  next  to  them,  and  who, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  conversation,  showed 
a  brace  of  heavy  pistols  with  which  he  was  pro- 
vided, with  much  boasting  as  to  what  he  would  do 
if  the  coach  were  attacked,  when  he  heard  of  the 
fate  of  the  passengers  who  had  resisted  became 
very  quiet  indeed,  and  presently  took  an  oppor- 
tunity, when  he  thought  that  he  was  not  observed, 
of  slipping  his  pistols  under  the  tarpaulin  behind 
him. 

"I  hope  those  dreadful  men  won't  stop  our 
coach,"  Khoda  said. 

"  They  won't  hurt  you  if  they  do,  Khoda,"  Tom 
said  assuringly.  "  I  think  it  would  be  rather  a 
lark.  I  say,  Peter,"  he  went  on  in  a  whisper,  "  I 
think  we  might  astonish  them  with  those  pistols  that 
coward  next  to  you  has  hid  behind  him." 

"  I  should  just  think  so,"  Peter  said  ;  "  the  bargee 
at  Eton  would  be  nothing  to  it." 

The  hours  went  slowly  on.  Khoda  and  the  boys 
dozed  uncomfortably  against  each  other  and  the 
baggage  behind  them,  until  they  were  suddenly 
roused  by  a  shout  in  the  road  beside  them  :  "  Stand 
for  your  lives !" 

The  moon  was  up,  and  they  could  see  that  there 
were  three  horsemen.  One  galloped  to  the  horses' 
heads,  and  seized  the  rein  of  one  of  the  leaders,  the 
others  rode  by  the  coach. 

The  first  answer  to  the  challenge  was  a  discharge 
from  the  blunderbuss  of  the  guard  which  brought 
one  of  the  highwaymen  from  his  horse. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  15 

The  other,  riding  up  to  the  side  of  the  coach, 
fired  at  the  guard,  and  a  loud  cry  told  that  the  shot 
had  taken  effect.  In  another  moment  the  fellow 
was  by  the  side  of  the  coachman. 

"  Hold  up  !"  he  said,  "  or  I  will  blow  your  brains 
out !" 

The  coachman  did  as  he  was  ordered,  and  indeed 
the  man  at  the  leader's  head  had  almost  succeeded 
in  stopping  them.  The  passenger  next  to  the  boys 
had,  at  the  first  challenge,  again  seized  his  pistols, 
and  the  boys  thought  that  he  was  going  to  fire 
after  all. 

"  Lie  down  at  our  feet,  Rhoda,  quick !"  Tom  said, 
"  and  don't  move  till  I  tell  you."  The  fate  of  the 
guard  evidently  frightened  away  the  short-lived 
courage  of  the  passenger,  for,  as  the  coachman  again 
pulled  up,  he  hastily  thrust  the  pistols  in  behind 
him. 

"  Get  down,  every  one  of  you,"  the  highwayman 
shouted. 

"  Lie  still,  Ehoda,"  Tom  whispered.  "  Now, 
Peter,  get  in  underneath  the  tarpaulin." 

This  was  done  as  the  passengers  descended.  The 
luggage  was  not  so  heavily  piled  as  usual,  and  the 
boys  found  plenty  of  room  beneath  the  tarpaulin. 

"  Now,  Peter,  you  take  one  of  these  pistols  and 
give  me  the  other.  Now  peep  out.  The  moon  is 
hidden,  which  is  a  good  thing ;  now,  look  here,  you 
shall  shoot  that  fellow  standing  down  below,  who  is 
swearing  at  the  ladies  inside  for  not  getting  out 
quicker.  I'll  take  a  shot  at  that  fellow  standing  in 
front  of  the  horses'  heads." 


16  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  hit  him,  Tom  ?" 

"  I  have  not  the  least  idea,  but  I  can  try ;  and  if 
you  hit  the  other  one,  the  chances  are  he'll  bolt, 
whether  I  hit  him  or  not.  Open  the  tarpaulin  at 
the  side  so  as  to  see  well,  and  rest  the  pistol  upon 
something.  You  must  take  a  good  shot,  Peter,  for 
if  you  miss  him  we  shall  be  in  a  mess." 

"  All  right,"  Peter  said,  in  a  whisper,  "  I  can 
almost  touch  him  with  the  pistol." 

In  loud  and  brutal  tones  the  highwayman  now 
began  to  order  the  frightened  ladies  to  give  up  their 
watches  and  rings,  enforcing  his  commands  with 
terrible  curses.  When  suddenly  a  pistol  flashed  out 
just  behind  him,  and  he  fell  off  his  horse  with  a  ball 
through  his  shoulder. 

Tom's  shot,  though  equally  well  intended,  was 
not  so  truly  aimed.  The  highwayman  had  dis- 
mounted, and  was  standing  just  in  front  of  the 
leaders,  so  that  Tom  had  a  fair  view  of  him  between 
them.  The  boys  had  both  occasionally  fired  their 
father's  pistols,  for  in  those  days  each  householder 
in  the  country  always  kept  loaded  pistols  in  his 
room  ;  but  his  skill  was  not  sufficient  to  make  sure 
of  a  man  at  that  distance.  The  bullet  flew  past  at 
two  feet  to  the  left  of  his  head.  But  its  effect  was 
scarcely  less  startling  than  if  it  had  actually  hit 
him,  for  in  its  passage  it  passed  through  the  ear 
of  the  off  leader.  The  horse  made  a  start  at  the 
sudden  pain,  and  then  dashed  forward.  The  rest  of 
the  team,  already  alarmed  by  the  shot,  followed  her 
lead  ;  before  the  startled  highwayman  could  get  out 


SUDDENLY  A  PISTOL  FLASHED  OUT  AND  HK  FELL  OFF  HIS  HOKSE. 
Page  16. 


,  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  17 

of  the  way  they  were  upon  him,  in  another  instant 
he  was  under  their  heels,  and  the  coach  gave  a  sud- 
den lurch  as  it  passed  over  his  body. 

"  Lie  still,  Rhoda,  a  little  longer ;  it's  all  right, 
but  the  horses  have  run  away,"  Tom  exclaimed,  as 
he  scrambled  forward  and  caught  hold  of  the  reins, 
which  the  coachman  had  tied  to  the  rail  of  the  seat 
as  he  got  down.  "  Catch  hold  of  the  reins,  Peter, 
and  help  me  pull." 

Peter  did  so ;  but  the  united  strength  of  the  boys 
was  wholly  unequal  to  arresting  the  headlong  flight 
of  the  horses. 

Fortunately  the  highwaymen  had  chosen  a  low 
bottom  between  two  hills,  to  arrest  the  coach,  con- 
sequently the  road  was  up  a  hill  of  moderate  steep- 
ness. The  boys  hoped  that  the  horses  would  stop 
when  they  got  to  the  top ;  but  they  went  on  with 
redoubled  speed. 

"  This  is  something  like  going  it,"  Peter  said. 

"  Isn't  it,  Peter?  They  know  their  way,  and  we 
ain't  likely  to  meet  anything  in  the  road.  They  will 
stop  at  their  stable.  At  any  rate,  it's  no  use  trying 
to  steer  them.  Here,  Rhoda  dear,  get  up  ;  are  you 
very  much  frightened  ?" 

Rhoda  still  lay  quite  still,  and  Peter,  holding  on 
with  difficulty,  for  the  coach  quite  rocked  with  the 
speed  at  which  they  were  going,  climbed  over  to 
her,  and  stooped  down.  "  Shall  I  help  you  up, 
Rhoda ?" 

"  No,  please,  I  would  rather  stop  here  till  it's  all 
over." 


18  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Fortunately  the  hill,  up  to  the  village  where  they 
made  the  change,  was  a  steep  one,  and  the  horses 
broke  into  a  trot  before  they  reached  the  top,  and 
in  another  minute  drew  up  at  the  door  of  the  inn. 
The  astonishment  of  the  hostlers  at  seeing  the  horses 
covered  with  lather,  and  coach-box  tenanted  only 
by  two  boys,  behind  whom  a  little  white  face  now 
peered  out,  was  extreme,  and  they  were  unable  to 
get  beyond  an  ejaculation  of  halloo !  expressive  of 
a  depth  of  incredulous  astonishment  impossible  to 
be  rendered  by  words. 

"  Look  here,"  Tom  said,  with  all  the  composure, 
and  much  of  the  impudence,  which  then,  as  now, 
characterized  the  young  Etonian,  "  don't  be  staring 
like  a  pack  of  stuck  pigs.  You  had  better  get  the 
fresh  horses  in,  and  drive  back  to  the  bottom,  about 
four  miles  from  here.  There  has  been  a  regular 
row  with  some  fellows,  and  I  expect  two  or  three 
are  killed.  Now,  just  put  up  the  ladder ;  I  want  to 
get  my  sister  down." 

Almost  mechanically  the  men  put  the  ladder  up 
to  the  coach,  and  the  boys  and  Rhoda  got  down. 

"Do  you  say  the  coach  has  been  attacked  by 
highwaymen  in  Burnet  bottom  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  Burnet  bottom," 
Tom  said.  "  It  was  a  bottom  about  four  miles  off. 
There  were  three  of  them.  The  guard  shot  one  of 
them,  and  the  others  shot  the  guard.  Then  we 
were  stopped  by  them,  and  every  one  had  to  get 
down.  Then  the  horses  ran  away,  and  here  we 
are." 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  19 

"  Then  there  are  two  of  those  highwayman  chaps 
with  the  passengers,"  one  of  the  men  said. 

"  You  need  not  be  afraid  of  them,"  Tom  said 
carelessly  ;  "  one  got  shot,  and  I  don't  know  about 
the  other,  but  the  wheel  of  the  coach  went  over  him, 
so  I  do  not  suppose  he  will  be  much  trouble.  Now, 
if  I  were  you,  1  should  not  stand  staring  any  more, 
but  should  make  haste  and  take  the  coach  back." 

"  Hullo,  look  at  this  gray,"  one  of  the  men  ex- 
claimed, as,  at  1  ast  understanding  what  had  taken 
place,  they  began  to  bustle  about  to  change  horses. 
"  He's  got  blood  all  over  the  side  of  his  head.  One 
of  those  scoundrels  has  shot  him  through  the  ear." 

Tom  burst  out  laughing.  "  I  am  the  scoundrel !" 
he  said.  "  Peter,  that  explains  why  we  went  off  so 
suddenly.  I  missed  the  fellow,  and  hit  the  leader 
in  the  ear.  However,  it  comes  to  the  same  thing. 
By  the  way,  we  may  as  well  take  the  pistols." 

So  saying,  he  ran  up  the  ladder  and  brought 
down  the  pistols.  By  this  time  the  fresh  horses 
were  in. 

"  I  can't  make  naught  of  it,"  one  of  the  hostlers 
said,  climbing  up  into  the  coachman's  seat.  "  Jump 
up,  Bill  and  Harry.  It's  the  rummiest  go  I  ever 
heard  of  in  coaching." 

"  Landlady,  can  you  get  us  some  tea  at  once, 
please,"  Tom  said,  going  up  to  the  landlady,  who 
was  looking  on  from  the  door  of  the  house  with  an 
astonishment  equal  to  that  of  the  men  at  the  whole 
affair  ;  "  as  quickly  as  you  can,  for  my  sister  looks 
regularly  done  up  with  fatigue,  and  then,  please. 


20  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

let  her  lie  down  till  the  coach  is  ready  to  start 
again.  It  will  be  three  quarters  of  an  hour  before 
it  is  back,  and  then,  I  dare  say,  there  will  be  a  lot 
of  talking  before  they  go  on.  I  should  think  they 
will  be  wanting  breakfast.  At  any  rate,  an  hour's 
rest  will  do  you  good,  Khoda." 

Rhoda  was  too  worn  out  with  the  over-excitement 
even  to  answer.  Fortunately  there  was  hot  water 
in  order  to  make  hot  grog  for  the  outriders  of  the 
coach,  some  tea  was  quickly  made,  and  in  ten 
minutes  Rhoda  was  fast  asleep  on  the  landlady's 
bed. 

Tom  and  Peter  expressed  their  desire  for  some- 
thing substantial  in  the  way  of  eating,  for  the 
morning  had  now  fairly  broken.  The  landlady 
brought  in  some  cold  meat,  upon  which  the  boys 
made  a  vigorous  attack,  and  then,  taking  possession 
of  two  benches,  they  dozed  off  until  the  coach 
arrived. 

It  had  but  three  horses,  for  one  had  been  sent  off 
to  carry  Bill,  the  hostler,  at  full  speed  to  the 
town  at  which  they  had  last  changed  horses,  to 
fetch  a  doctor  and  the  constable.  The  other  two 
men  had  remained  with  the  guard,  who  was  shot 
in  the  hip,  and  the  highwayman,  whose  collar-bone 
was  broken  by  Peter's  shot.  The  fellow  shot  by 
the  guard,  and  the  other  one,  whom  the  coach 
wheels  had  passed  over,  were  both  dead. 

"  There's  the  coach,  Tom." 

"  What  a  nuisance,  Peter,  they'll  all  be  wanting 
to  talk  now,  and  I  am  just  so  comfortably  off. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  21 

Well,  I  suppose  it's  no  use  trying  to  get  any  more 
sleep." 

So  saying,  they  roused  themselves,  and  went  out 
to  the  door  just  as  the  coach  drew  up. 

There  was  a  general  shout  of  greeting  from  the 
passengers,  which  was  stopped,  however,  by  a  per- 
emptory order  from  the  coachman. 

He  was  a  large,  stout  man,  with  a  face  red  from 
the  effects  of  wind  and  exposure.  "  Jack,"  he  said 
to  a  man  who  was  standing  near,  for  the  news  of 
the  attack  upon  the  coach  had  quickly  spread,  and 
all  the  villagers  were  astir  to  see  it  come  in.  "  Jack, 
hold  the  leader's  head.  Thomas,  open  the  door, 
and  let  the  insides  out.  Gents,"  he  said  solemnly, 
when  this  was  done,  "  I'm  going  to  do  what  isn't  a 
usual  thing  by  no  means,  in  fact,  I  ain't  no  prece- 
dence for  doing  it ;  but  then,  I  do  not  know  any 
precedence  for  this  here  business  altogether.  I 
never  did  hear  of  a  coachman  standing  up  on  his 
box  to  give  a  cheer,  no,  not  to  King  George  him- 
self ;  but,  there,  King  George  never  polished  off  two 
highwaymen  all  to  himself,  leastway,  not  as  I've 
heard  tell  of.  ISTow,  these  two  young  gents  have 
done  this.  They  have  saved  my  coach  and  my  pas- 
sengers from  getting  robbed,  and  so  I'm  going  to 
give  'em  three  cheers.  I'll  trouble  you  to  help  me 
up  into  the  box  seat,  gentlemen." 

Assisted  by  the  other  passengers,  the  driver  now 
gravely  climbed  up  into  the  box  seat,  steadied  him- 
self there  by  placing  one  hand  upon  the  shoulder  of 
the  passenger  next  him,  took  off  his  low-crowned 


22  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

hat,  and  said,  "  Follow  me,  gents,  with  three  cheers 
for  those  young  gents  standing  there ;  better  plucked 
ones  I  never  came  across,  and  I've  traveled  a  good 
many  miles  in  my  day." 

So  saying,  he  gave  three  stentorian  cheers,  which 
were  echoed  by  all  the  passengers  and  villagers. 

Then  there  was  a  momentary  silence,  and  Tom, 
who,  with  his  brother,  had  been  feeling  very  un- 
comfortable, although  rather  inclined  to  laugh,  see- 
ing that  he  was  expected  to  say  something,  said, 
"  Thank  you  all  very  much  ;  but  we'd  much  rather 
you  hadn't  done  it." 

Then  there  was  a  general  laugh  and  movement, 
and  a  general  pressing  forward  of  the  passengers  to 
shake  the  boys  by  the  hand.  The  driver  was  as- 
sisted down  from  his  elevated  position,  and  got  off 
the  coach  and  came  up  to  them.  "  That's  the  first 
speech  I  ever  made,  young  gentlemen,  and  if  I 
know  myself,  it  will  be  the  last ;  but,  you  see,  I  was 
druv  to  it.  You're  a  good  sort,  that's  certain. 
What  will  you  drink  ?" 

The  boys  declared  for  beer,  and  drank  solemnly 
with  the  driver,  imitating  him  in  finishing  their 
mugs  at  a  draught,  and  turning  them  topsy-turvy. 
There  was  now  a  great  deal  of  talking,  and  many 
questions  were  asked.  Tom  and  Peter  modestly 
said  that  there  was  really  nothing  to  tell.  They 
saw  that  the  gentleman  next  to  them  intended  to 
use  his  pistols  ;  but,  not  seeing  a  good  opportunity, 
put  them  down  behind  the  tarpaulin,  and  the 
thought  occurred  to  them  that,  by  slipping  behind 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  23 

it,  they  would  get  a  good  chance  of  a  certain  shot. 
Accordingly,  they  had  fired,  and  then  the  horses  had 
run  away,  and  there  was  an  end  of  it.  There  was 
nothing  extraordinary  in  the  whole  matter. 

"  At  any  rate,  my  boys,  you  have  saved  me  from 
a  loss  of  a  couple  of  hundred  pounds  which  I  had 
got  hid  in  my  boots,  but  which  those  fellows  would 
have  been  sure  to  have  discovered,"  one  of  the  pas- 
sengers said. 

There  was  a  general  chorus  of  satisfaction  at 
many  watches  and  trinkets  saved,  and  then  the  first 
passenger  went  on : 

"  I  propose,  gentlemen  and  ladies,  that  when  we 
get  to  the  end  of  our  journey  we  make  a  subscrip- 
tion, according  to  the  amount  we  have  saved,  and 
that  we  get  each  of  these  young  gentlemen  a  brace 
of  the  very  best  pistols  that  can  be  bought.  If 
they  go  on  as  they  have  begun,  they  will  find  them 
useful." 

There  was  a  general  exclamation  of  approval,  and 
one  of  the  ladies,  who  had  been  an  inside  passenger, 
said,  "  And  I  think  we  ought  to  give  a  handsome 
ring  to  their  sister  as  a  memorial  through  life.  Of 
course,  she  had  not  so  much  to  do  as  her  brothers, 
but  she  had  the  courage  to  keep  still,  and  she  had 
to  run  the  risk  both  of  being  shot  and  of  being  up- 
set by  the  coach  just  as  they  did." 

This  also  was  unanimously  approved,  and,  after 
doing  full  justice  to  the  breakfast  set  before  them, 
the  party  again  took  their  places.  Rhoda  being 
carried  down  asleep,  by  the  landlady,  and  placed  in 


24  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

the  coach,  one  of  the  inside  passengers  getting  out 
to  make  room  for  her,  and  she  was  laid,  curled  up, 
on  the  seat,  with  her  head  in  a  lady's  lap,  and  slept 
quietly,  until,  to  her  astonishment,  she  was  woke 
up,  and  told  that  she  was  in  Marlborough. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  25 


CHAPTER  II. 

TWO    YOUNG-    PICKLES. 

AN  old-fashioned  open  carriage,  drawn  by  a  stiff, 
old-fashioned  horse,  and  driven  by  a  stiff,  old- 
fashioned  man,  was  in  waiting  at  the  inn  at  which 
the  coach  drew  up  at  Marlborough.  Into  this  the 
young  Scudamores  were  soon  transferred,  and  after 
a  hearty  good-by  from  their  fellow-passengers,  and 
an  impressive  one  from  the  coachman,  they  started 
upon  the  concluding  part  of  their  journey. 

"How  far  is  it  to  aunt's?"  Tom  asked. 

"  About  six  miles,  young  sir,"  the  driver  said 
gravely. 

The  young  Scudamores  had  great  difficulty  to  re- 
strain their  laughter  at  Tom's  new  title ;  in  fact, 
Peter  nearly  choked  himself  in  his  desperate  efforts 
to  do  so,  and  no  further  questions  were  asked  for 
some  time. 

The  ride  was  a  pleasant  one,  and  Rhoda,  who  had 
never  been  out  of  Lincolnshire  before,  was  delighted 
with  the  beautiful  country  through  which  they 
were  passing.  The  journey,  long  as  it  was — for  the 
road  was  a  very  bad  one,  and  the  horse  had  no  idea 
of  going  beyond  a  slow  trot — passed  quickly  to 


26  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

them  all ;  but  they  were  glad  when  the  driver 
pointed  to  a  quaint  old-fashioned  house  standing 
back  from  the  road,  and  said  that  they  were  home. 

"  There  are  the  pigeons,  Rhoda,  and  there  is 
Minnie  asleep  on  that  open  window-sill." 

Very  many  times  had  the  young  Scudamores 
talked  about  their  aunt,  and  had  pictured  to  them- 
selves what  she  would  be  like ;  and  their  ideas  of 
her  so  nearly  approached  the  truth  that  she  almost 
seemed  to  be  an  old  acquaintance  as  she  came  to 
the  door  as  the  carriage  stopped.  She  was  a  tall, 
upright,  elderly  lady,  with  a  kind,  but  very  decided 
face,  and  a  certain  prim  look  about  her  manner  and 
dress. 

"  Well,  niece  Rhoda  and  nephews,  I  am  glad  to 
see  that  you  have  arrived  safely,"  she  said  in  a 
clear,  distinct  voice.  "  Welcome  to  the  Yews.  I 
hope  that  we  shall  get  on  very  well  together. 
Joseph,  I  hope  that  you  heve  not  driven  Daisy  too 
fast,  and  that  you  did  not  allow  my  nephews  to  use 
the  whip.  You  know  I  gave  you  very  distinct  in- 
structions not  to  let  them  do  so." 

"  No,  my  lady,  they  never  so  much  as  asked." 

"  That  is  right,"  Miss  Scudamore  said,  turning 
round  and  shaking  hands  with  the  boys,  who  had 
now  got  out  of  the  carriage  and  had  helped  Rhoda 
down.  "  I  am  glad  to  hear  what  Joseph  tells  me, 
for  J  know  that  boys  are  generally  fond  of  furious 
driving,  and  like  lashing  horses  until  they  put  them 
into  a  gallop.  And  now,  how  are  you,  niece  Rhoda  ? 
Give  me  a  kiss.  That  is  right.  You  look  pale  and 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  27 

tired,  child ;  you  must  have  something  to  eat,  and 
then  go  to  bed.  Girls  can't  stand  racketing  about 
as  boys  can.  You  look  quiet  and  nice,  child,  and  I 
have  no  doubt  we  shall  suit  very  well.  It  is  very 
creditable  to  you  that  you  have  not  been  spoiled  by 
your  brothers.  Boys  generally  make  their  sisters 
almost  as  noisy  and  rude  as  they  are  themselves." 

"  I  don't  think  we  are  noisy  and  rude,  aunt," 
Tom  said,  with  a  smile. 

"  Oh,  you  don't,  nephew  ?"  Miss  Scudamore  said, 
looking  at  him  sharply,  and  then  shaking  her  head 
decidedly  two  or  three  times.  "  If  your  looks  do 
not  belie  you  both  sadly,  you.  are  about  as  hair- 
brained  a  couple  of  lads  as  my  worst  enemies  could 
wish  to  see  sent  to  plague  me ;  but,"  she  added  to 
herself,  as  she  turned  to  lead  the  way  indoors,  "  I 
must  do  my  duty,  and  must  make  allowances ;  boys 
will  be  boys,  boys  will  be  boys,  so  they  say  at  least, 
though  why  they  should  be  is  more  than  I  can  make 
out.  Now,  Rhoda,  I  will  take  you  up  with  me. 
Your  bedroom  leads  out  of  mine,  dear.  Hester," 
she  said  to  a  prim-looking  servant  who  had  come 
out  after  her  to  .the  door,  "  will  you  show  my 
nephews  to  their  room  ?  Dinner  will  be  ready  at 
two ;  it  is  just  a  quarter  to  the  hour  now.  I  see  that 
you  have  got  watches,  so  that  you  will  be  able  to  be 
punctual ;  and  I  must  request  you,  when  you  have 
done  washing,  not  to  throw  the  water  out  of  the 
window,  because  my  flower-beds  are  underneath." 

Tom  had  great  difficulty  in  keeping  his  counte- 
nance, while  he  assured  his  aunt  that  his  brother 


28  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

and  himself  never  did  empty  their  basins  out  of  the 
window. 

"  That  is  right,"  Miss  Scudamore  said  doubtfully ; 
"  but  I  have  heard  that  boys  do  such  things." 

Once  fairly  in  their  room  and  the  door  shut,  they 
had  a  great  laugh  over  their  aunt's  ideas  as  to  boys. 

"  There  is  one  comfort,"  Tom  said  at  last ;  "  what- 
ever we  do  we  shall  never  surprise  her." 

"  I  think  we  shall  get  on  very  well  with  her," 
Peter  said.  "  She  means  to  be  kind,  I  am  sure. 
This  is  a  jolly  room,  Tom." 

It  was  a  low  wainscoted  room,  with  a  very  wide 
window  divided  into  three  by  mullions,  and  fitted 
with  latticed  panes.  They  were  open,  and  a  deli- 
cious scent  of  flowers  came  in  from  the  garden. 
The  furniture  was  all  new  and  very  strong,  of  dark 
stained  wood,  which  harmonized  well  with  the 
paneling.  There  were  no  window  curtains,  but  a 
valance  of  white  dimity  hung  above  the  window. 
There  was  a  piece  of  carpet  between  the  beds ;  the 
rest  of  the  floor  was  bare,  but  the  boards  were  of 
old  oak,  and  looked  as  well  without  it.  Several 
rows  of  pegs  had  been  put  upon  the  walls,  and  there 
was  a  small  chest  of  drawers  by  each  bed. 

"  This  is  very  jolly,  Peter ;  but  it  is  a  pity  that 
there  are  bars  to  the  window." 

When  they  came  down  to  dinner  they  found  that 
Rhoda,  quite  done  up  with  her  journey,  had  gone  to 
bed. 

"You  like  your  room,  I  hope,  nephews,"  Miss 
Scudamore  said,  after  they  had  taken  their  seats. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  29 

"  Yes,  aunt,  very  much.  There  is  only  one  draw- 
back to  it." 

"  What  is  that,  Thomas?" 

"  Oh,  please,  aunt,  don't  call  me  Thomas ;  it  is  a 
dreadful  name;  it  is  almost  as  bad  as  Tommy. 
Please  call  me  Tom.  I  am  always  called  Tom  by 
every  one." 

"  I  am  not  fond  of  these  nicknames,"  Miss  Scuda- 
more  said.  "  There  is  a  flippancy  about  them  of 
which  I  do  not  approve." 

"  Yes,  aunt,  in  nicknames ;  but  Tom  is  not  a  nick- 
name; it  is  only  a  short  way  of  speaking.  We 
never  hear  of  a  man  being  called  Thomas,  unless  he 
is  a  footman  or  an  archbishop,  or  something  of  that 
sort." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  archbishop  ?"  Miss  Scuda- 
more  asked  severely. 

"  Well,  aunt,  I  was  going  to  say  footman,  and 
then  I  thought  of  Thomas  a  Becket ;  and  there  was 
Thomas  the  Rhymer.  I  have  heard  of  him,  but  I 
never  read  any  of  his  rhymes.  I  wonder  why  they 
did  not  call  them  poems.  But  I  expect  even  Thomas 
a  Becket  was  called  Tom  in  his  own  family." 

Miss  Scudamore  looked  sharply  at  Tom,  but  he 
had  a  perfect  command  of  his  face,  and  could  talk 
the  greatest  nonsense  with  the  most  serious  face. 
He  went  on  unmoved  with  her  scrutiny. 

"  I  have  often  wondered  why  I  was  not  christened 
Tom.  It  would  have  been  much  more  sensible. 
For  instance,  Rhoda  is  christened  Rhoda,  and  not 
Rhododendron." 


30  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Rhododendron  ?"  Miss  Scudamore  said,  mysti- 
fied. 

"  Yes,  aunt,  it  is  an  American  plant,  I  believe. 
We  had  one  in  the  greenhouse  at  home ;  it  was  sent 
poor  papa  by  some  friend  who  went  out  there.  I 
don't  see  anything  else  Rhoda  could  come  from." 

"You  are  speaking  very  ignorantly,  nephew," 
Miss  Scudamore  said  severely.  "  I  don't  know  any- 
thing about  the  plant  you  speak  of,  but  the  name 
of  Rhoda  existed  before  America  was  ever  heard 
of.  It  is  a  very  old  name." 

"  I  expect,"  Peter  said,  "  it  must  have  meant 
originally  a  woman  of  Rhodes.  You  see  Crusaders 
and  Templars  were  always  having  to  do  with 
Rhodes,  and  they  no  doubt  brought  the  name  home, 
and  so  it  got  settled  here." 

'•The  name  is  mentioned  in  Scripture,"  Miss 
Scudamore  said  severely. 

"  Yes,  aunt,  and  that  makes  it  still  more  likely 
that  it  meant  a  woman  of  Rhodes ;  you  see  Rhodes 
was  a  great  place  then." 

Miss  Scudamore  was  silent  for  some  time.  Then 
she  went  back  to  the  subject  with  which  the  conver- 
sation had  commenced.  "What  is  the  objection 
you  spoke  of  to  the  room  ?" 

"  Oh !  it  is  the  bars  to  the  window,  aunt." 

"  I  have  just  had  them  put  up,"  Miss  Scudamore 
said  calmly. 

"Just  put  up,  aunt!"  Tom  repeated  in  surprise; 
"what  for?" 

"To  prevent  you  getting  out  ;it  night." 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  31 

The  boys  could  not  help  laughing  this  time,  and 
then  Peter  said,  "  But  why  should  we  want  to  get 
out  at  night,  aunt  ?" 

"  Why  should  boys  always  want  to  do  the  things 
they  ought  not?"  Miss  Scudamore  said.  "I've 
heard  of  boys  being  let  down  by  ropes  to  go  and  buy 
things.  I  dare  say  you  have  both  done  it  your- 
selves." 

"  Well,  aunt,"  Tom  said,  "  perhaps  we  have ;  but 
then,  you  see,  that  was  at  school." 

"  I  do  not  see  any  difference,  nephew.  If  you 
will  get  out  at  one  window,  you  will  get  out  at  an- 
other. There  is  mischief  to  be  done  in  the  country 
as  well  as  in  towns ;  and  so  long  as  there  is  mischief 
to  do,  so  long  will  boys  go  out  of  their  way  to  do  it. 
And  now  I  will  tell  yo'i  the  rules  of  this  house,  to 
which  you  will  be  expected  to  adhere.  It  is  well  to 
understand  things  at  once,  as  it  prevents  mistakes. 
We  breakfast  at  eight,  dine  at  two,  have  tea  at 
half -past  six,  and  you  will  go  to  bed  at  half-past 
eight.  These  hours  will  be  strictly  observed.  I 
shall  expect  your  hands  and  faces  to  be  washed,  and 
your  hairs  brushed  previous  to  each  meal.  When 
you  come  indoors  you  will  always  take  off  your 
boots  and  put  on  your  shoes  in  the  little  room  be- 
hind this.  And  now,  if  you  have  done  dinner  I 
think  that  you  had  better  go  and  lie  down  on  your 
bed,  and  get  two  or  three  hours'  sleep.  Take  off 
your  boots  before  you  get  into  the  bed." 

"  She  means  well,  Peter,"  the  elder  brother  said, 
as  they  went  upstairs,  "  but  I  am  afraid  she  will 
fidget  our  lives  out." 


32  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

For  two  or  three  days  the  boys  wandered  about, 
enjoying  the  beautiful  walks,  and  surprising  and 
pleasing  their  aunt  by  the  punctuality  with  which 
they  were  in  to  their  meals.  Then  she  told  them 
that  she  had  arranged  for  them  to  go  to  a  tutor, 
who  lived  at  Warley,  a  large  village  a  mile  distant, 
and  who  had  some  eight  or  ten  pupils.  The  very 
first  day's  experience  at  the  school  disgusted  them. 
The  boys  were  of  an  entirely  different  class  to  those 
with  whom  they  had  hitherto  associated,  and  the 
master  was  violent  and  passionate. 

"How  do  you  like  Mr.  Jones,  nephews?"  Miss 
Scudamore  asked  upon  their  return  after  their  first 
day  at  school. 

"  We  do  not  like  him  at  all,  aunt.  In  the  first 
place  he  is  a  good  deal  too  handy  with  that  cane 
of  his." 

"  *  He  who  spares  the  rod ' " 

"Yes,  we  know  that,  aunt,  'spoils  the  child,'" 
broke  in  Tom ;  "  but  we  would  not  mind  so  much  if 
the  fellow  were  a  gentleman." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  may  call  a  gentleman," 
Miss  Scudamore  said  severely.  "  He  stands  very  high 
here  as  a  schoolmaster,  while  he  visits  the  vicar, 
and  is  well  looked  up  to  everywhere." 

"  He's  not  a  gentleman,  for  all  that,"  Tom  mut- 
tered; "he  wouldn't  be  if  he  visited  the  queen. 
One  does  not  mind  being  thrashed  by  a  gentleman  ; 
one  is  used  to  that  at  Eton;  but  to  be  knocked 
about  by  a  fellow  like  that !  Well,  we  shall  see :" 

For  a  week  the  boys  put  up  with  the  cruelty  of 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  33 

their  tutor,  who  at  once  took  an  immense  dislike  to 
them  on  finding  that  they  did  not,  like  the  other 
boys,  cringe  before  him,  and  that  no  thrashing  could 
extract  a  cry  from  them. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  they  did  not  medi- 
tate vengeance ;  but  they  could  hit  upon  no  plan 
which  could  be  carried  out  without  causing  suspicion 
that  it  was  the  act  of  one  of  the  boys;  and  in  that 
case  they  knew  that  he  would  question  them  all 
round,  and  they  would  not  tell  a  lie  to  screen  them- 
selves. 

Twice  they  appealed  to  their  aunt ;  but  she  would 
not  listen  to  them,  saying  that  the  other  boys  did 
not  complain  and  that  if  their  master  was  more 
severe  with  them  than  with  others  it  could  only  be 
because  they  behaved  worse.  It  was  too  evident 
that  they  were  boys  of  very  violent  dispositions, 
and  although  she  was  sorry  that  their  master  found 
it  necessary  to  punish  them,  it  was  clearly  her  duty 
not  to  interfere. 

The  remark  about  violence  arose  from  Miss  Scuda- 
more  having  read  in  the  little  paper  which  was 
published  once  a  week  at  Marlborough  an  account 
of  the  incident  of  the  stopping  of  the  coach,  about 
which  the  boys  had  agreed  to  say  nothing  to  her. 
The  paper  had  described  the  conduct  of  her  nephews 
in  the  highest  terms,  but  Miss  Scudamore  was  ter- 
ribly shocked.  "  The  idea,"  she  said,  "  that  she 
should  have  to  associate  with  boys  who  had  taken 
a  fellow-creature's  life  was  terrible  to  her,  and  their 
conduct  in  resisting,  when  grown-up  men  had  given 


34  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

up  the  idea  as  hopeless,  showed  a  violent  spirit, 
which,  in  boys  so  young,  was  shocking." 

A  few  days  after  this,  as  the  boys  were  coming 
from  school,  they  passed  the  carrier's  cart  coming 
in  from  Marl  borough. 

"  Be  you  the  young  gentlemen  at  Miss  Scuda- 
more's?"  the  man  asked.  "Because  if  you  be,  I 
have  got  a  parcel  for  you." 

Tom  answered  him  that  they  were,  and  he  then 
handed  them  over  a  heavy  square  parcel.  Opening 
it  after  the  cart  had  gone  on,  the  boys,  to  their 
great  delight,  found  that  it  consisted  of  two  cases, 
each  containing  a  brace  of  very  handsome  pistols. 

"  This  is  luck,  Peter,"  Tom  said.  "  If  the  parcel 
had  been  sent  to  the  house  aunt  would  never  have 
let  us  have  them ;  now  we  can  take  them  in  quietly, 
get  some  powder  and  balls,  and  practice  shooting 
every  day  in  some  quiet  place.  That  will  be  capi- 
tal. Do  you  know  I  have  thought  of  a  plan  which 
will  enrage  old  Jones  horribly,  and  he  will  never 
suspect  us  ?" 

"  No ;  have  }^ou,  Tom  ?    What  is  that  ?" 

"  Look  here,  Peter.  I  can  carry  you  easily  stand- 
ing on  my  shoulders.  If  you  get  a  very  long  cloak, 
so  as  to  fall  well  down  on  me,  no  one  would  suspect 
in  the  dark  that  there  were  two  of  us ;  we  should 
look  like  one  tremendously  tall  man.  Well,  you 
know,  he  goes  every  evening  to  Dunstable's  to  sing 
with  Miss  Dunstable.  They  say  he's  making  love 
to  her.  We  can  waylay  him  in  the  narrow  lane, 
and  make  him  give  up  that  new  watch  he  has  just 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  35 

bought,  that  he's  so  proud  of.  I  heard  him  say  he 
had  given  thirty  guineas  for  it.  Of  course  we  don't 
want  to  keep  it,  but  we  would  smash  it  up  between 
a  couple  of  big  stones  and  send  him  all  the  pieces." 

"  Capital,  Tom ;  but  where  should  we  get  the 
cloak?" 

"  There  is  that  long  wadded  silk  cloak  of  aunt's 
that  she  uses  when  she  goes  out  driving.  It  always 
hangs  up  in  the  closet  in  the  hall." 

"  But  how  are  we  to  get  in  again,  Tom  ?  I  ex- 
pect that  he  does  not  come  back  till  half-past  nine 
or  ten.  "We  can  slip  out  easily  enough  after  we  are 
supposed  to  have  gone  to  bed ;  but  how  are  we  to 
get  back  ?" 

"The  only  plan,  Peter,  is  to  get  in  through 
Rhoda's  window.  She  is  very  angry  at  that  brute 
Jones  treating  us  so  badly,  and  if  I  take  her  into 
the  secret  I  feel  sure  she  will  agree." 

Rhoda  was  appealed  to,  and  although  at  first  she 
said  it  was  quite,  quite  impossible,  she  finally  agreed, 
although  with  much  fear  and  trembling,  to  assist 
them.  First,  the  boys  were  to  buy  some  rope  and 
make  a  rope  ladder,  which  Rhoda  was  to  take  up  to 
her  room ;  she  was  to  open  the  window  wide  when 
she  went  to  bed,  but  to  pull  the  blind  down  as  usual, 
so  that  if  her  aunt  came  in  she  would  not  notice  it. 
Then,  when  she  heard  her  aunt  come  up  to  bed  at 
half-past  nine,  she  was  to  get  up  very  quietly,  drop 
the  rope  ladder  out,  fastening  it  as  they  instructed 
her,  and  then  get  into  bed  again,  and  go  to  sleep  if 
she  could,  as  the  boys  would  not  try  to  come  in 
until  after  Miss  Scudamore  was  asleep. 


36  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Two  nights  after  this  the  schoolmaster  was  re- 
turning from  his  usual  visit  to  Mr.  Dunstable,  when, 
to  his  horror,  he  saw  a  gigantic  figure  advance  from 
under  a  tree  which  overshadowed  the  lawn,  and 
heard  a  deep  voice  say,  "  Your  money  or  your  life !" 

Like  all  bullies,  the  schoolmaster  was  a  coward, 
and  no  sooner  did  he  see  this  terrible  figure,  and  his 
ears  caught  the  ominous  click  of  a  pistol  which 
accompanied  the  words,  than  his  teeth  chattered, 
his  whole  figure  trembled  with  fear,  and  he  fell  on 
his  knees,  crying,  "  Spare  my  life ! — take  all  that  I 
have,  but  spare  my  life  !" 

"  You  miserable  coward !"  the  giant  said,  "  I  do 
not  want  to  take  your  wretched  life.  What  money 
have  you  ?" 

"  I  have  only  two  shillings,"  he  exclaimed ;  "  I 
swear  to  you  that  I  have  only  two  shillings." 

"  What  is  the  use  of  two  shillings  to  me  ? — give 
them  to  the  first  beggar  you  see." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  the  schoolmaster  said ;  "  I  swear  to 
you  that  I  will." 

"  Give  me  your  watch." 

The  school  master  took  out  his  watch,  and,  getting 
upon  his  feet,  handed  it  to  the  giant. 

"  There  now,  you  can  go ;  but  see,"  he  added,  as 
the  schoolmaster  turned  with  great  alacrity  to 
leave — "  look  here." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Look  here,  and  mark  my  words  well.  Don't 
you  go  to  that  house  where  you  have  been  to  night, 
or  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you.  You  are  a  wretch, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  37 

and  I  won't  see  that  poor  little  girl  marry  you  and 
be  made  miserabla  Swear  to  me  you  will  give  her 
up." 

The  schoolmaster  hesitated,  but  there  was  again 
the  ominous  click  of  the  pistol. 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  swear  it,"  he  said  hastily.  "  I  will 
give  her  up  altogether." 

"  You  had  better  keep  your  oath,"  the  giant  said, 
"for  if  you  break  it,  if  I  hear  you  go  there  any 
more — I  shall  be  sure  to  hear  of  it — I  will  put  an 
ounce  of  lead  in  you, if  I  have  to  doit  in  the  middle 
of  vour  school.  Do  you  hear  me  ?  Now  you  may 

go" 

Only  too  glad  to  escape,  the  schoolmaster  walked 
quickhr  off,  and  in  a  moment  his  steps  could  be 
heard  as  he  ran  at  the  top  of  his  speed  down  the 
lane. 

In  a  moment  the  giant  appeared  to  break  in  two, 
and  two  small  figures  stood  where  the  large  one  had 
been. 

"  Capital,  Peter.  Now,  I'll  take  the  6loak,  and 
you  keep  the  pistol,  and  now  for  a  run  home — not 
that  I'm  afraid  of  that  coward  getting  up  a  pursuit. 
He'll  be  only  too  glad  to  get  his  head  under  the 
bedclothes." 

Rhoda  had  carried  out  her  brother's  instructions 
with  great  exactness,  and  was  in  a  great  fright 
when  her  aunt  came  in  to  see  her  in  bed,  lest  she 
should  notice  that  the  window  was  open.  However, 
the  night  was  a  quiet  one,  and  the  curtains  fell 
partly  across  the  blind,  so  that  Miss  Scudamore  sus- 


38  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

pected  nothing,  but  Khoda  felt  great  relief  when 
she  said  good-night,  took  the  candle,  and  left  the 
room.  She  had  had  hard  work  to  keep  herself 
awake  until  she  heard  her  aunt  come  up  to  bed ; 
and  then,  finding  that  she  did  not  again  come  into 
the  room,  she  got  up,  fastened  one  end  of  the  rope 
ladder  to  a  thick  stick  long  enough  to  cross  two  of 
the  mullions,  let  the  other  end  down  very  quietly, 
and  then  slipped  into  bed  again.  She  did  not  awake 
until  Hester  knocked  at  her  door  and  told  her  it  was 
time  to  get  up.  She  woke  with  a  great  start,  and 
in  a  fright  at  once  ran  to  the  window.  Everything 
looked  as  usual.  The  rope  ladder  was  gone,  the 
window  was  closed,  and  Rhoda  knew  that  her 
brothers  must  have  come  in  safely. 

Great  was  the  excitement  in  Warley  next  day, 
when  it  became  known  that  the  schoolmaster  had 
been  robbed  of  his  watch  by  a  giant  fully  eight 
feet  high.  This  height  of  the  robber  was,  indeed, 
received  with  much  doubt,  as  people  thought  that 
he  might  have  been  a  tall  man,  but  that  the  eight 
feet  must  have  been  exaggerated  by  the  fear  of  the 
schoolmaster. 

Two  or  three  days  afterward  the  surprise  rose 
even  higher,  when  a  party  of  friends  who  had 
assembled  at  Mr.  Jones'  to  condole  with  him  upon 
his  misfortune,  were  startled  by  the  smashing  of 
one  of  the  windows  by  a  small  packet,  which  fell 
upon  the  floor  in  their  midst. 

There  was  a  rush  to  the  door,  but  the  night  was 
a  dark  one,  and  no  one  was  to  be  seen ;  then  they 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  39 

returned  to  the  sitting-room,  and  the  little  packet 
was  opened,  and  found  to  contain  some  watchworks 
bent  and  broken,  some  pulverized  glass,  and  a  bat- 
tered piece  of  metal,  which,  after  some  trouble,  the 
schoolmaster  recognized  as  the  case  of  his  watch. 
The  head-constable  was  sent  for,  and  after  examin- 
ing the  relics  of  the  case,  he  came-  to  the  same  con- 
clusion at  which  the  rest  had  already  arrived, 
namely,  that  the  watch  could  not  have  been  stolen 
by  an  ordinary  footpad,  but  by  some  personal 
enemy  of  the  schoolmaster's,  whose  object  was  not 
plunder,  but  annoyance  and  injury. 

To  the  population  of  Warley  this  solution  was  a 
very  agreeable  one.  The  fact  of  a  gigantic  footpad 
being  in  the  neighborhood  was  alarming  for  all, 
and  nervous  people  were  already  having  great  bolts 
and  bars  placed  upon  their  shutters  and  doors.  The 
discovery,  therefore,  that  the  object  of  this  giant 
was  not  plunder,  but  only  to  gratify  a  spite  against 
the  master,  was  a  relief  to  the  whole  place.  Every 
one  was,  of  course,  anxious  to  know  who  this  secret 
foe  could  be,  and  what  crime  Mr.  Jones  could  have 
committed  to  bring  such  a  tremendous  enemy  upon 
him.  The  boys  at  the  school  assumed  a  fresh  im- 
portance in  the  eyes  of  the  whole  place,  and  being 
encouraged  now  to  tell  all  they  knew  of  him,  they 
gave  such  a  picture  of  the  life  that  they  had  led  at 
school  that  a  general  feeling  of  disgust  was  aroused 
against  him. 

The  parents  of  one  or  two  of  the  boys  gave  notice 
to  take  their  sons  away,  but  the  rest  of  the  boys 
were  boarders,  and  were  no  better  off  than  before. 


40  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Miss  Scudamore  was  unshaken  in  her  faith  in 
Mr.  Jones,  and  considered  the  rumor  current  about 
him  to  be  due  simply  to  the  vindictive  nature  of 
boys. 

"  Well,  aunt,"  Tom  said  one  day,  after  a  lecture 
of  this  sort  from  her,  "  I  know  you  mean  to  be  kind 
to  us,  but  Peter  and  I  have  stood  it  on  that  account, 
but  we  can't  stand  it  much  longer,  and  we  shall  run 
away  before  long." 

"  And  where  would  you  run  to,  nephew  ?"  Miss 
Scudamore  said  calmly. 

"  That  is  our  affair,"  Tom  said  quite  as  coolly, 
"only  I  don't  like  to  do  it  without  giving  you 
warning.  You  mean  kindly,  I  know,  aunt,  but  the 
way  you  are  always  going  on  at  us  from  morning 
to  night  whenever  we  are  at  home,  and  the  way  in 
which  you  allow  us  to  be  treated  by  that  tyrannical 
brute,  is  too  much  altogether." 

Miss  Scudamore  looked  steadily  at  them. 

"  I  am  doing,  nephew,  what  I  consider  to  be  for 
your  good.  You  are  willful,  and  violent,  and  head- 
strong. It  is  my  duty  to  cure  you,  and  although  it 
is  all  very  painful  to  me,  at  my  time  of  life,  to  have 
such  a  charge  thrust  upon  me,  still,  whatever  it 
costs,  it  must  be  done." 

For  the  next  month  Mr.  Jones'  life  was  rendered 
a  burden  to  him.  The  chimney-pots  were  shut  up 
with  sods  placed  on  them,  and  the  fireplaces  poured 
volumes  of  smoke  into  the  rooms  and  nearly  choked 
him.  Night  after  night  the  windows  of  his  bed- 
room were  smashed  :  cats  were  let  down  the  chim- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  41 

ney ;  his  water-butts  were  found  filled  with  mud, 
and  the  cord  of  the  bucket  of  his  well  was  cut  time 
after  time ;  the  flowers  in  his  garden  were  dug  up 
and  put  in  topsy-turvy.  He  himself  could  not  stir 
out  after  dark  without  being  tripped  up  by  strings 
fastened  a  few  inches  above  the  path ;  and  once, 
coming  out  of  his  door,  a  string  fastened  from 
scraper  to  scraper  brought  him  down  the  steps  with 
such  violence  that  the  bridge  of  his  nose,  which 
came  on  to  the  edge  of  a  step,  was  broken,  and  he 
was  confined  to  his  bed  for  three  or  four  days.  In 
vain  he  tried  every  means  to  discover  and  punish 
the  authors  of  these  provocations.  A  savage  dog, 
the  terror  of  the  neighborhood,  was  borrowed  and 
chained  up  in  the  garden,  but  was  found  poisoned 
next  morning. 

"Watchmen  were  hired,  but  refused  to  stay  for 
more  than  one  night,  for  they  were  so  harassed  and 
wearied  out  that  they  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
they  were  haunted.  If  they  were  on  one  side  of 
the  house  a  voice  would  be  heard  on  the  other. 
After  the  first  few  attempts  they  no  longer  dared 
venture  to  run,  for  between  each  round  strings  were 
tied  in  every  direction,  and  they  had  several  heavy 
falls,  while  as  they  were  carefully  picking  their  way 
with  their  lanterns,  stones  struck  them  from  all 
quarters.  If  one  ventured  for  a  moment  from  the 
other's  side  his  lantern  was  knocked  out,  and  his 
feet  were  struck  from  under  him  with  a  sharp  and 
unexpected  blow  from  a  heavy  cudgel ;  and  they 
were  once  appalled  by  seeing  a  gigantic  figure  stalk 
across  the  grass,  and  vanish  in  a  little  bush. 


42  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

At  the  commencement  of  these  trials  the  school- 
master had  questioned  the  boys,  one  by  one,  if  they 
had  any  hand  in  the  proceeding. 

All  denied  it.  When  it  came  to  Tom  Scudamore's 
turn,  he  said :  "  You  never  do  believe  me,  Mr.  Jones, 
so  it  is  of  no  use  my  saying  that  I  didn't  do  it ; 
but  if  you  ask  Miss  Scudamore,  she  will  bear  wit- 
ness that  we  were  in  bed  hours  before,  and  that 
there  are  bars  on  our  windows  through  which  a  cat 
could  hardly  get." 

The  boys  had  never  used  Rhoda's  room  after 
the  first  night's  expedition,  making  their  escape 
now  by  waiting  until  the  house  was  quiet,  and 
then  slipping  along  the  passage  to  the  spare  room, 
and  thence  by  the  window,  returning  in  the  same 
way. 

Under  this  continued  worry,  annoyance,  and 
alarm,  the  schoolmaster  grew  thin  and  worn,  his 
school  fell  off  more  and  more;  for  many  of  the 
boys,  whose  rest  was  disturbed  by  all  this  racket, 
encouraged  by  the  example  of  the  boys  of  the  place 
who  had  already  been  taken  away,  wrote  privately 
to  their  friends. 

The  result  was  that  the  parents  of  two  or  three 
more  wrote  to  s&y  that  their  boys  would  not  return 
after  the  holidays,  and  no  one  was  surprised  when 
it  became  known  that  Mr.  Jones  was  about  to  close 
his  school  and  leave  the  neighborhood. 

The  excitement  of  the  pranks  that  they  had  been 
playing  had  enabled  the  boys  to  support  the  almost 
perpetual  scoldings  and  complaints  of  their  aunt ; 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  43 

but  school  once  over,  and  their  enemy  driven  from 
the  place,  they  made  up  their  minds  that  they  could 
no  longer  stand  it. 

One  day,  therefore,  when  Rhoda  had,  as  an  ex- 
traordinary concession,  been  allowed  to  go  for  a 
walk  with  them,  they  told  her  that  they  intended 
to  run  away. 

Poor  Rhoda  was  greatly  distressed. 

"  You  see,  Rhoda  dear,"  Tom  said,  "  although  we 
don't  like  leaving  you,  you  will  really  be  happier 
when  we  are  gone.  It  is  a  perpetual  worry  to  you 
to  hear  aunt  going  on,  on,  on — nagging,  nagging, 
nagging  forever  and  ever  at  us.  She  is  fond  of  you 
and  kind  to  you,  and  you  would  get  on  quietly 
enough  without  us,  while  now  she  is  in  a  fidget 
whenever  you  are  with  us,  and  is  constantly  at  you 
not  to  learn  mischief  and  bad  ways  from  us.  Be- 
sides you  are  always  in  a  fright  now,  lest  we  should 
get  into  some  awful  scrape,  as  I  expect  we  should  if 
we  stopped  here.  If  it  weren't  for  you,  we  should 
not  let  her  off  as  easily  as  we  do.  No,  no,  Rhoda, 
it  is  better  for  us  all  that  we  should  go." 

Poor  Rhoda,  though  she  cried  bitterly  at  the 
thought  of  losing  her  brothers,  yet  could  not  but 
allow  to  herself  that  in  many  respects  she  should  be 
more  happy  when  she  was  freed  from  anxiety,  lest 
they  should  get  into  some  scrape,  and  when  her 
aunt  would  not  be  kept  in  a  state  of  continued  irri- 
tation and  scolding.  She  felt  too  that,  although 
she  herself  could  get  on  well  enough  in  her  changed 
life,  that  it  was  very  hard  indeed  for  the  boys, 


44  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

accustomed  as  they  had  been  to  the  jolly  and  in- 
dependent life  of  a  public  school,  and  to  be  their 
o\vn  master  during  the  holidays,  with  their  ponies 
and  amusements,  and  their  freedom  to  come  and  go 
when  they  chose.  Rhoda  was  a  thoughtful  child, 
and  felt  that  nothing  that  they  could  go  through 
could  do  them  more  harm  or  make  them  more  un- 
happy than  they  now  were.  She  had  thought  it  all 
over  day  after  day,  for  she  was  sure  that  the  boys 
would  sooner  or  later  come  to  it,  and  she  had  con- 
vinced herself  that  it  was  better  for  them.  Still  it 
was  with  a  very  sad  heart  that  she  found  that  the 
time  had  come. 

For  some  time  she  cried  in  silence,  and  then,  dry- 
ing her  eyes,  she  said,  trying  to  speak  bravely, 
though  her  lips  quivered : 

"  I  shall  miss  you  dreadfully,  boys ;  but  I  will  not 
say  a  word  to  keep  you  here,  for  I  am  sure  it  is 
very,  very  bad  for  you.  "What  do  you  mean  to  do? 
Do  you  mean  to  go  to  sea  ?" 

"  No,  Rhoda ;  you  see  uncle  was  in  the  army,  and 
used  to  talk  to  us  about  that ;  and  as  we  have  never 
seen  the  sea,  we  don't  care  for  it  as  some  boys  do. 
No,  we  shall  try  and  go  as  soldiers." 

"  But,  my  dear  Tom,  they  will  never  take  you  as 
soldiers  ;  you  are  too  little. " 

"  Yes,  we  are  not  old  enough  to  enlist  at  present," 
Tom  said  ;  "  but  we  might  go  in  as  buglers.  We 
have  thought  it  all  over,  and  have  been  paying  old 
Wetherley,  who  was  once  in  the  band  of  a  regiment, 
to  teach  us  the  bugle,  and  he  says  we  can  sound  aH 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  45 

the  calls  now  as  well  as  any  bugler  going.  We  did 
not  like  to  tell  you  till  we  had  made  up  our  minds 
to  go ;  but  we  have  gone  regularly  to  him  every 
day  since  the  first  week  we  came  here." 

"  Then  you  won't  have  to  fight,  Tom,"  Rhoda 
said  joyfully. 

"  Ho,"  Tom  said,  in  a  rather  dejected  tone ;  "  I 
am  afraid  they  won't  let  us  fight ;  still  we  shall  see 
fighting,  which  is  the  next  best  thing." 

"  I  heard  in  Warley  yesterday  that  there  will  be 
a  movement  of  the  army  in  Spain  soon,  and  that 
some  more  troops  will  be  sent  out,  and  we  shall  try 
and  get  into  a  regiment  that  is  going." 

They  talked  very  long  and  earnestly  on  their 
plans,  and  were  so  engrossed  that  they  quite  forgot 
how  time  went,  and  got  in  late  for  tea,  and  were 
terribly  scolded  in  consequence.  For  once  none  of 
them  cared  for  the  storm ;  the  boys  exulted  over 
the  thought  that  it  would  be  the  last  scolding  they 
would  have  to  suffer  ;  and  Rhoda  had  difficulty  in 
gasping  down  her  tears  at  the  thought  that  it  was 
the  last  meal  that  she  would  take  with  them,  for 
they  had  settled  that  they  would  start  that  very 
night. 


4:6  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ENLISTED. 

IT  was  a  bright  moonlight  night  when  the  boys, 
after  a  sad  farewell  from  Rhoda,  let  themselves 
down  from  the  window,  and  started  upon  their 
journey.  Each  carried  a  bundle  on  a  stick ;  each 
bundle  contained  a  suit  of  clothes,  a  few  shirts  and 
stockings,  a  pair  of  shoes,  and  a  pistol.  The  other 
pistols  were  carried  loaded  inside  their  jackets,  for 
there  was  no  saying  whom  they  might  meet  upon 
the  road.  They  had  put  on  the  oldest  suit  of 
clothes  they  possessed,  so  as  to  attract  as  little  at- 
tention as  possible  by  the  way.  After  they  had 
once  recovered  from  their  parting  with  Rhoda  their 
spirits  rose,  and  they  tramped  along  lightly  and 
cheerfully.  It  was  eleven  o'clock  when  they  started, 
and  through  the  night  they  did  not  meet  a  single 
person.  Toward  morning  they  got  under  a  hay- 
stack near  the  road,  and  slept  for  some  hours ;  then 
they  walked  steadily  on  until  they  had  done  twenty 
miles  since  their  start.  They  went  into  a  small  inn 
and  had  some  breakfast,  and  then  purchasing  some 
bread  and  cold  ham,  went  on  through  the  town,  and, 
leaving  the  London  road,  followed  that  leading  to 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  47 

Portsmouth,  and  after  a  mile  or  two  again  took  up 
their  quarters  until  evening  in  a  haystack. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  give  the  details  of  the 
journey  to  Portsmouth.  After  the  first  two  days' 
tramp,  having  no  longer  any  fear  of  the  pursuit, 
which,  no  doubt,  had  been  made  for  them  when 
first  missed,  they  walked  by  day,  and  slept  at  night 
in  sheds,  or  under  haystacks,  as  they  were  afraid  of 
being  questioned  and  perhaps  stopped  at  inns. 
They  walked  only  short  distances  now,  for  the  first 
night's  long  journey  had  galled  their  feet,  and,  as 
Tom  said,  they  were  not  pressed  for  time,  and  did 
not  want  to  arrive  at  Portsmouth  like  two  limping 
tramps.  Walking,  therefore,  only  twelve  miles  a 
day,  after  the  first  two  days,  they  arrived  at 
Portsmouth  fresh  and  in  high  spirits.  They 
had  met  with  no  adventures  upon  the  road,  ex- 
cept that  upon  one  occasion  two  tramps  had  at- 
tempted to  seize  their  bundles,  but  the  production 
of  the  pistols,  and  the  evident  determination  of  the 
boys  to  use  them  if  necessary,  made  the  men  abandon 
their  intention  and  make  off,  with  much  bad  lan- 
guage and  many  threats,  at  which  the  boys  laughed 
disdainfully. 

Arrived  at  Portsmouth,  their  first  care  was  to 
find  a  quiet  little  inn,  where  they  could  put  up. 
This  they  had  little  difficulty  in  doing,  for  Ports- 
mouth abounded  with  public-houses,  and  people 
were  so  much  accustomed  to  young  fellows  tramp- 
ing in  with  their  bundles,  to  join  their  ships,  that 
their  appearance  excited  no  curiosity  whatever. 


48  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Tom  looked  older  than  he  really  was,  although  not 
tall  for  his  age,  while  Peter,  if  anything,  overtopped 
his  brother,  but  was  slighter,  and  looked  fully  two 
years  younger.  Refreshed  by  a  long  night's  sleep 
between  sheets,  they  started  out  after  breakfast  to 
see  the  town,  and  were  greatly  impressed  and  de- 
lighted by  the  bustle  of  the  streets,  full  of  soldiers 
and  sailors,  and  still  more  by  the  fortifications  and 
the  numerous  ships  of  war  lying  in  the  harbor,  or 
out  at  Spithead.  A  large  fleet  of  merchantmen  was 
lying  off  at  anchor,  waiting  for  a  convoy,  and  a  per- 
fect fleet  of  little  wherries  was  plying  backward 
and  forward  between  the  vessels  and  the  shore. 

"  It  makes  one  almost  wish  to  be  a  sailor,"  Peter 
said,  as  they  sat  upon  the  Southsea  beach,  and 
looked  out  at  the  animated  ocean. 

"  It  does,  Peter ;  and  if  it  had  been  ten  years 
back,  instead  of  at  present,  I  should  have  been 
ready  enough  to  change  our  plans.  But  what  is 
the  use  of  going  to  sea  now  ?  The  French  and 
Spanish  navies  skulk  in  harbor,  and  the  first  time 
our  fellows  get  them  out  they  will  be  sure  to  smash 
them  altogether,  and  then  there  is  an  end  to  all 
fighting.  No,  Peter,  it  looks  tempting,  I  grant,  but 
we  shall  see  ten  times  as  much  with  the  army.  We 
must  go  and  settle  the  thing  to-morrow.  There  is 
no  time  to  be  lost  if  the  expedition  starts  in  a  fort- 
night or  three  weeks." 

Returning  into  the  town,  the  boys  were  greatly 
amused  at  seeing  a  sailor's  wedding.  Four  carriages 
and  pair  drove  along ;  inside  were  women,  while 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  49 

four  sailors  sat  on  each  roof,  waving  their  hats  to 
the  passers-by,  and  refreshing  themselves  by  re- 
peated pulls  at  some  black  bottles,  with  which  they 
were  well  supplied.  Making  inquiries,  the  boys 
found  that  the  men  belonged  to  a  fine  frigate 
which  had  come  in  a  day  or  two  before,  with  several 
prizes. 

The  next  morning  they  went  down  to  the  bar- 
racks. Several  non-commissioned  officers,  with 
bunches  of  gay  ribbons  in  their  caps,  were  standing 
about.  Outside  the  gates  were  some  boards,  with 
notices,  "  Active  young  fellows  required.  Good 
pay,  plenty  of  prize  money,  and  chances  of  promo- 
tion !" 

The  boys  read  several  of  these  notices,  which  dif- 
fered only  from  each  other  in  the  name  of  the  regi- 
ment ;  and  then  Tom  gave  an  exclamation  of  satis- 
faction as  he  glanced  at  a  note  at  the  foot  of  one  of 
them,  "  Two  or  three  active  lads  wanted  as  buglers." 

"  There  we  are,  Peter  ;  and,  oh,  what  luck  !  it  is 
Uncle  Peter's  regiment !  Look  here,  Peter,"  he 
said,  after  a  pause,  "  we  won't  say  anything  about 
being  his  nephews,  unless  there  is  no  other  way  of 
getting  taken  ;  for  if  we  do  it  won't  be  nice.  "We 
shall  be  taken  notice  of,  and  not  treated  like  other 
fellows,  and  that  will  cause  all  sorts  of  ill-feeling 
and  jealousy,  and  rows.  It  will  be  quite  time  to 
say  who  we  are  when  we  have  done  something  to 
show  that  we  shan't  do  discredit  to  him.  You  see 
it  isn't  much  in  our  favor  that  we  are  here  as  two 
runaway  boys.  If  we  were  older  we  could  go  as 


50  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

volunteers,  but  of  course   we  are  too  young  for 
that." 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  in  those  days  it  was 
by  no  means  unusual  for  young  men  who  had  not 
sufficient  interest  to  get  commissions  to  obtain  per- 
mission to  accompany  a  regiment  as  volunteers. 
They  paid  their  own  expenses,  and  lived  with  the 
officers,  but  did  dut}r  as  private  soldiers.  If  they 
distinguished  themselves,  they  obtained  commissions 
to  fill  up  vacancies  caused  in  action. 

"  There  is  our  sergeant,  Tom  ;  let's  get  it  over  at 
once." 

"  If  you  please,"  Tom  said,  as  they  went  up  to 
the  sergeant,  "  are  you  the  recruiting  sergeant  of 
the  Norfolk  Rangers  ?" 

"  By  Jove,  Summers,  you  are  in  luck  to-day," 
laughed  one  of  the  other  sergeants  ;  "  here  are  two 
valuable  recruits  for  the  Rangers.  The  Mounseers 
will  have  no  chance  with  the  regiment  with  such 
giants  as  those  in  it.  Come,  my  fine  fellows,  let 
me  persuade  you  to  join  the  Fifteenth.  Such  little 
bantams  as  you  are  would  be  thrown  away  upon  the 
Rangers." 

There  was  a  shout  of  laughter  from  the  other  non- 
commissioned officers. 

Tom  was  too  much  accustomed  to  chaffing  bargees 
at  Eton  to  be  put  out  of  countenance. 

"  "We  may  be  bantams/'  he  said,  "  but  I  have 
seen  a  bantam  lick  a  big  dunghill  cock  many  a 
time.  Fine  feathers  don't  always  make  fine  birds, 
mv  man." 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  51 

"  Well  answered,  young  one,"  the  sergeant  of  the 
Rangers  said,  while  there  was  a  general  laugh  among 
the  others,  for  the  sergeant  of  the  Fifteenth  was  not 
a  favorite. 

"You  think  yourself  sharp,  youngster,"  he  said 
angrily.  "  You  want  a  licking,  you  do ;  and  if 
you  were  in  the  Fifteenth,  you!d  get  it  pretty 
quickly." 

"  Oh  !  I  beg  your  pardon,"  Tom  said  gravely  ; 
"  I  did  not  know  that  the  Fifteenth  were  famous 
for  thrashing  boys.  Thank  you  ;  when  I  enlist  it 
shall  be  in  a  regiment  where  men  hit  fellows  their 
own  size." 

There  was  a  shout  of  laughter,  and  the  sergeant, 
enraged,  stepped  forward,  and  gave  Tom  a  swinging 
box  on  the  ear. 

There  was  a  cry  of  "  shame  "  from  the  others  ; 
but  before  any  of  them  could  interfere,  Tom  sud- 
denly stooped,  caught  the  sergeant  by  the  bottom 
of  the  trousers,  and  in  an  instant  he  fell  on  his  back 
with  a  crash. 

For  a  moment  he  was  slightly  stunned,  and  then, 
regaining  his  feet,  he  was  about  to  rush  at  Tom, 
when  the  others  threw  themselves  in  between  them, 
and  said  he  should  not  touch  the  boy.  He  struck 
him  first,  and  the  boy  had  only  given  him  what 
served  him  right. 

The  sergeant  was  furious,  and  an  angry  quarrel 
was  going  on,  when  an  officer  of  the  Rangers  came 
suddenly  out  of  the  barracks. 

"  Halloo,  Summers,  what  is  all  this  about  ?    I 


52  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

am  surprised  at  you.  A  lot  of  non-commissioned 
officers,  just  in  front  of  the  barrack  gates,  quarrel- 
ing like  drunken  sailors  in  a  pothouse.  What  does 
it  all  mean  ?" 

"  The  fact  is  this,  Captain  Manley,"  the  sergeant 
said,  saluting,  "  these  two  lads  came  up  to  speak  to 
me,  when  Sergeant  Billow  chaffed  them.  The  lad 
gave  the  sergeant  as  good  as  he  got,  and  the  ser- 
geant lost  his  temper,  and  hit  him  a  box  on  the  ear, 
and  in  a  moment  the  young  one  tripped  him  up, 
and  pretty  nigh  stunned  him ;  when  he  got  up  he 
was  going  at  the  boy,  and,  of  course,  we  wouldn't 
have  it." 

"  Quite  right,"  Captain  Manley  said.  "  Sergeant 
Billow,  I  shall  forward  a  report  to  your  regiment. 
Chaffing  people  in  the  street,  and  then  losing  your 
temper,  striking  a  boy,  and  causing  a  disturbance. 
Now,  sergeant,"  he  went  on,  as  the  others  moved 
away,  "  do  you  know  those  boys  ?" 

"  No,  sir ;  they  are  strangers  to  me." 

"  Do  you  want  to  see  the  sergeant  privately,  lads, 
or  on  something  connected  with  the  regiment  ?" 

"  I  see  that  you  have  vacancies  for  buglers,  sir," 
Tom  said,  "and  my  brother  and  myself  want  to 
enlist  if  you  will  take  us." 

Captain  Manley  smiled.  "You  young  scamps, 
you  have  got  '  runaway  from  home '  as  plainly  on 
your  faces  as  if  it  was  printed  there.  If  we  were 
to  enlist  you,  we  should  be  having  your  friends 
here  after  you  to-morrow,  and  get  into  a  scrape  for 
taking  you." 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  53 

"  We  have  no  friends  who  will  interfere  with  us, 
sir,  I  can  give  you  my  word  of  honor  as  a  gentle- 
man." Captain  Manley  laughed.  "  I  mean,"  Tom 
said,  confused,  "  my  word  of  honor  as  an  intend- 
ing bugler." 

"  Indeed  we  have  no  one  to  interfere  with  us  in 
any  way,  sir,"  Peter  put  in  -earnestly.  "  We 
wouldn't  tell  a  lie  even  to  enlist  in  the  Rangers." 

Captain  Manley  was  struck  by  the  earnestness  of 
the  boys'  faces,  and  after  a  pause  he  said  to  the 
sergeant : 

"  That  will  do,  Summers ;  I  will  take  these  lads 
up  to  my  quarters  and  speak  to  them." 

Then,  motioning  to  the  boys  to  follow  him,  he 
re-entered  the  barracks,  and  led  the  way  up  to  his 
quarters. 

"  Sit  down,"  he  said,  when  they  had  entered  his 
room.  "Now,  boys,  this  is  a  foolish  freak  upon 
your  part,  which  you  will  regret  some  day.  Of 
course  you  have  run  away  from  school." 

"  No,  sir,  we  have  run  away  from  home,"  Tom 
said. 

"  So  much  the  worse,"  Captain  Manley  said 
gravely.  "  Tell  me  frankly,  why  did  you  do  so  ? 
No  unkindness  at  home  can  excuse  boys  from  run- 
ning away  from  their  parents." 

"  We  have  none,  sir,"  Tom  said.  "  We  have  lost 
them  both — our  mother  many  years  ago,  our  father 
six  months.  Our  only  living  relation,  except  a 
younger  sister,  is  an  aunt,  who  considers  us  as 
nuisances,  and  who,  although  meaning  to  do  her 
duty,  simply  drives  us  out  of  our  minds." 


54  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Captain  Manley  could  not  resist  a  smile.  "  Do 
you  not  go  to  school  ?" 

"  We  did  go  to  a  school  near,  but  unfortunately 
it  is  broken  up." 

Captain  Manley  caught  a  little  look  of  amuse- 
ment between  the  boys.  "  I  should  not  be  surprised 
if  you  had  something  to  do  with  its  breaking  up," 
he  said  with  a  laugh.  "  But  to  return  to  your  com- 
ing here.  There  is  certainly  less  reason  against 
your  joining  than  I  thought  at  first,  but  you  are 
too  young." 

"We  are  both  strong,  and 'are  good  walkers," 
Tom  said. 

"  But  you  cannot  be  much  over  fifteen,"  Captain 
Manley  said,  "  and  your  brother  is  younger." 

"  We  are  accustomed  to  strong  exercise,  sir,  and 
can  thrash  most  fellows  of  our  own  size." 

"Very  likely,"  Captain  Manley  said,  "but  we 
can't  take  that  into  consideration.  You  are  cer- 
tainly young  for  buglers  for  service  work ;  how- 
ever, I  will  go  across  with  you  to  the  orderly-room, 
and  hear  what  the  colonel  says." 

Crossing  the  barrack-yard,  they  found  the  colonel 
was  in  and  disengaged. 

"  Colonel  Tritton,"  Captain  Manley  said,  "  these 
lads  want  to  enlist  as  buglers." 

The  colonel  looked  up  and  smiled.  "  They  look 
regular  young  pickles,"'  he  said.  "  I  suppose  they 
have  run  away  from  school." 

"  Not  from  school,  colonel.  They  have  lost  both 
parents  and  live  with  an  aunt,  witli  whom  they 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  55 

don't  get  on  well.  There  does  not  seem  to  be  much 
chance  of  their  being  claimed." 

"  You  are  full  young,"  the  colonel  said,  "  and  I 
think  you  will  be  sorry,  boys,  for  the  step  you  want 
to  take." 

"  I  don't  think  so,  sir,"  Tom  said. 

"Of  course,  you  don't  at  present,"  the  colonel 
said.  "  However,  that  is  your  business.  Mind,  you 
will  have  a  rough  time  of  it ;  you  will  have  to  fight 
your  way,  you  know.1' 

"  I'll  back  them  to  hold  their  own,"  Captain  Man- 
ley  said,  laughing.  "  When  I  went  out  at  the  bar- 
rack-gate just  now  there  was  a  row  among  a  lot  of 
recruiting  sergeants,  and  when  I  went  up  to  put  a 
stop  to  it  I  found  that  a  fellow  of  the  Fifteenth  had 
chaffed  these  boys  when  they  went  up  to  speak  to 
Summers,  and  that  they  had  got  the  best  of  it  in 
that  line;  and  the  fellow  having  lost  his  temper 
and  struck  one  of  them,  he  found  himself  on  his 
back  on  the  pavement.  The  boy  had  tripped  him 
up  in  an  instant." 

The  colonel  laughed,  and  then  said  suddenly  and 
sharply  to  Peter,  "  Where  did  you  learn  that  trick, 
youngster  ?" 

"At  Eton,"  Peter  answered  promptly,  and  then 
colored  up  hotly  at  his  brother's  reproachful  glance. 

"  Oh,  ho !  At  Eton,  young  gentlemen,  eh !"  the 
colonel,  said.  "  That  alters  the  matter.  If  you 
were  at  Eton  your  family  must  be  people  of  prop- 
erty, and  I  can't  let  you  do  such  a  foolish  thing  as 
enlist  as  buglers." 


56  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Our  father  lost  all  his  money  suddenly,  owing 
to  a  blackguard  he  trusted  cheating  him.  He  found 
it  out,  and  it  killed  him,"  Tom  said  quietly. 

The  colonel  saw  he  was  speaking  the  truth. 
"  Well,  well,"  he  said  kindly,  "we  must  see  what 
we  can  do  for  you,  boys.  They  are  young,  Manley, 
but  that  will  improve,  and  by  the  time  that  they 
have  been  a  year  at  the  depot— 

"  Oh,  if  you  please,  colonel,"  Tom  said,  "  we  want 
to  go  on  foreign  service,  and  it's  knowing  that  your 
regiment  was  under  orders  for  foreign  service  we 
came  to  it." 

"  Impossible !"  the  colonel  said  shortly. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  for  that,  sir,"  Tom  said  respect- 
fully, "  for  we  would  rather  belong  to  this  regiment 
than  any  in  the  service ;  but  if  you  will  not  let  us 
go  with  it  we  must  try  another." 

"  Why  would  you  rather  belong  to  us  than  to  any 
other?"  the  colonel  asked,  as  the  boys  turned  to 
leave  the  room. 

"  I  had  rather  not  say,  sir,"  Tom  said.  "  We  have 
a  reason,  and  a  very  good  one ;  but  it  is  not  one  \ve 
should  like  to  tell." 

The  colonel  was  silent  for  a  minute.  He  was 
struck  with  the  boys'  appearance  and  manner,  and 
was  sorry  at  the  thought  of  losing  them,  partly  from 
interest  in  themselves,  partly  because  the  sea 
service  was  generally  so  much  more  attractive  to 
boys  that  it  was  not  easy  to  get  them  to  enlist  as 
buglers  and  drummers. 

"  You  see,  lads,  I  should  really  like  to  take  you, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  57 

but  we  shall  be  starting  in  a  fortnight,  and  it  would 
be  altogether  impossible  for  you  to  learn  to  sound 
the  bugle,  to  say  nothing  of  learning  the  calls,  by 
that  time." 

"We  can't  play  well,  sir,"  Tom  answered,  his 
spirits  rising  again,  "  but  we  have  practiced  for 
some  time,  and  know  a  good  many  of  the  calls." 

"  Oh,  indeed  !"  the  colonel  said,  pleased  ;  "  that 
alters  the  case.  Well,  lads,  1  should  like  to  take 
you  with  the  regiment,  for  you  look  straight- 
forward, sharp  young  fellows.  So  I  will  enlist 
you.  Work  hard  for  the  next  fortnight,  and  if  I 
hear  a  favorable  report  of  you  by  that  time,  you 
shall  go." 

"  Thank  you  very  much,"  the  boys  said  warmly, 
delighted  to  find  their  hopes  realized. 

"  What  are  your  names  ?"  the  colonel  asked. 

"  Tom  and  Peter,"  Tom  answered. 

"  Tom  and  Peter  what  ?"  the  colonel  said. 

The  boys  looked  at  each  other.  The  fact  that 
they  would  of  course  be  asked  their  names  had 
never  occurred  to  them,  and  they  had  not  there- 
fore consulted  whether  to  give  their  own  or  another 
name. 

"  Come,  boys,"  Colonel  Tritton  said  good-temper- 
edly,  "  never  be  ashamed  of  your  names ;  don't  sail 
under  false  colors,  lads.  I  am  sure  you  will  do 
nothing  to  disgrace  your  names." 

Tom  looked  at  Peter,  and  saw  that  he  agreed  to 
give  their  real  names,  so  he  said,  "  Tom  and  Peter 
Scudamore." 


58  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Peter  Scudamore !  Why,  Manley,  these  boys 
must  be  relations  of  the  dear  old  colonel.  That 
explains  why  they  chose  the  regiment.  Now,  boys, 
what  relation  was  he  of  yours  ?" 

"  I  do  not  admit  that  he  was  a  relation  at  all, 
colonel,"  Tom  said  gravely,  "  and  I  hope  that  you 
will  not  ask  the  question.  Supposing  that  he  had 
been  a  relation  of  ours,  we  should  not  wish  it  to  be 
known.  In  the  first  place,  it  would  not  be  alto- 
gether creditable  to  his  memory  that  relations  of 
his  should  be  serving  as  buglers  in  his  old  regiment; 
and  in  the  second  place,  it  might  be  that,  from  a 
kindness  toward  him,  some  of  the  officers  might, 
perhaps,  treat  us  differently  to  other  boys,  which 
would  make  our  position  more  difficult  by  exciting 
jealousy  among  others.  Should  there  be  any  rela- 
tion between  him  and  us,  it  will  be  time  enough 
for  us  to  claim  it  when  we  have  shown  ourselves 
worthy  of  it." 

"  Well  said,  boys,"  the  officers  both  exclaimed. 
"  You  are  quite  right,"  the  colonel  went  on,  "  and  I 
respect  your  motive  for  keeping  silence.  What 
you  say  about  jealousy  which  might  arise  is  very 
sensible  and  true.  At  the  same  time,  I  will  promise 
you  that  I  will  keep  my  eye  upon  you,  and  that  if 
an  opportunity  should  occur  in  which  I  can  give 
you  a  chance  of  showing  that  there  is  more  in  you 
than  in  other  boys,  be  assured  you  shall  have  the 
chance." 

"  Thank  you  very  much  indeed,  colonel,"  both 
bovs  exclaimed. 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  59 

"  Now,  Manley,  I  shall  be  obliged  if  you  will 
take  them  to  the  adjutant  and  tell  him  to  swear 
them  in  and  attest  them  in  regular  form;  the 
surgeon  will,  of  course,  examine  them.  Please  tell 
the  quartermaster  to  get  their  uniforms  made  with- 
out loss  of  time  ;  and  give  a  hint  to  the  bugle-major 
that  I  should  be  pleased  if  he  will  'pay  extra  atten- 
tion to  them,  and  push  them  on  as  fast  as  possible." 

Captain  Manley  carried  out  these  instructions, 
the  boys  were  duly  examined  by  the  surgeon  and 
passed,  and  in  half  an  hour  became  his  majesty's 
servants. 

"  Now,  boys,"  Captain  Manley  said,  as  he  crossed 
with  them  to  the  quarters  of  the  bandmaster,  "  you 
will  have  rather  a  difficult  course  to  steer,  but  I 
have  no  doubt  you  will  get  through  it  with  credit. 
This  is  something  like  a  school,  and  you  will  have  to 
fight  before  you  find  your  place.  Don't  be  in  a 
hurry  to  begin ;  take  all  good-natured  chaff  good- 
naturedly  ;  resent  any  attempt  at  bullying.  I  have 
no  doubt  you  will  be  popular,  and  it  is  well  that  you 
should  be  so,  for  then  there  will  be  no  jealousy  if 
your  luck  seems  better  than  that  of  others.  They 
will,  of  course,  know  that  you  are  differently  born 
and  educated  to  themselves,  but  they  will  not  like 
you  any  the  worse  for  that  if  they  find  that  you  do 
not  try  to  keep  aloof  from  them  or  give  yourselves 
airs.  And  look  here,  boys,  play  any  tricks  you  like 
with  the  men,  but  don't  do  it  with  the  non-commis- 
sioned officers.  There  is  nothing  they  hate  so  much 
as  impudence  from  the  boys,  and  they  have  it  in 


60  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

their  power  to  do  you  a  great  deal  of  good  or  of 
harm.  You  will  not  have  much  to  do  with  the 
bandmaster.  Only  a  portion  of  the  band  accompa- 
nies us,  and  even  that  will  be  broken  up  when  we 
once  enter  upon  active  campaigning.  Several  of 
the  company  buglers  have  either  left  lately  or  have 
got  their  stripes  and  given  up  their  bugles,  and  I 
do  not  fancy  that  their  places  will  be  filled  up  be- 
fore we  get  out  there.  Now  your  great  object  will 
be  to  get  two  of  these  vacancies.  I  am  afraid  you 
are  too  young ;  still  there  will  be  plenty  more  va- 
cancies after  we  are  once  in  the  field,  for  a  bullet 
has  no  respect  for  buglers ;  and  you  see  the  better 
you  behave  the  better  your  chance  of  being  chosen." 

"  What  is  the  difference  exactly,  sir  ?"  Tom  asked. 

"  The  company  bugler  ranks  on  the  strength  of 
the  company,  messes,  marches,  and  goes  into  action 
with  them ;  the  other  buglers  merely  form  part  of 
the  band,  are  under  the  bandmaster,  play  at  the 
head  of  the  regiment  on  its  march,  and  help  in  the 
hospitals  during  a  battle." 

"  JViacpberson,"  he  said,  as  he  entered  the  band- 
master's quarters,  where  a  number  of  men  and  a 
few  lads  were  practicing,  "  I  have  brought  you  two 
lads  who  have  entered  as  buglers." 

The  bandmaster  was  a  Scotchman — a  stiff-looking, 
elderly  man. 

"  "Weel,  Captain  Manley,  I'm  wanting  boys,  but 
they  look  very  young,  and  I  misdoubt  they  had  better 
have  been  at  school  than  here.  However,  I'll  do 
my  best  with  them ;  they  look  smart  lads,  and  we 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  61 

shall  have  plenty  of  time  at  the  depot  to  get  them 
into  shape." 

"  Lots  of  time,  Macpherson,  lots  of  time.  They 
say  they  know  a  few  calls  on  the  bugle,  so  perhaps 
they  had  better  stick  to  the  calls  at  present ;  you 
will  have  plenty  of  time  to  begin  with,  them  regu- 
larly with  the  notes  when  all  the  bustle  is  over." 

"  Eh,  ye  know  the  calls,  boys  ?  Hardy  and 
Graves,  give  them  your  bugles,  and  let  us  hear 
them.  Now  for  the  advance." 

Tom  and  Peter  felt  very  nervous,  but  they  had 
really  practiced  hard  for  an  hour  a  day  for  the  last 
four  months,  and  could  play  all  the  calls  they  knew 
steadily  and  well.  The  bandmaster  made  no  re- 
mark until  they  had  sounded  some  half  a  dozen  calls 
as  he  named  them,  and  then  he  said :  "  The  lads 
have  a  vera  gude  idea  of  it,  Captain  Manley.  They 
are  steadier  and  clearer  than  mony  a  one  of  the 
boys  already.  Will  ye  begin  at  once,  lads,  or  will 
ye  wait  till  ye  get  your  uniform  ?" 

"We  had  rather  begin  at  once,"  the  boys  answered 
together. 

"  Vera  gude.  Hardy,  take  two  bugles  out  of  the 
chest,  and  then  take  these  lads — what's  your  name, 
boys?  Eh?  Scudamore?  A  vera  gude  name — 
take  them  over  to  Corporal  Skinner ;  he  will  be 
practicing  with  the  others  on  the  ramp." 

With  a  word  of  grateful  thanks  to  Captain 
Manley  as  he  went  out  before  them,  the  boys  fol- 
lowed their  new  guide  out  to  the  ramparts.  A 
guide  was  hardly  necessary,  for  an  incessant  bugling 


62  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

betokened  the  place,  where,  in  one  of  the  bastions 
behind  the  barracks,  seven  or  eight  buglers  were 
sounding  the  various  calls  under  the  direction  of 
Corporal  Skinner. 

The  corporal  was  a  man  of  few  words,  for  he 
merely  nodded  when  the  boy — who  had  not  opened 
his  lips  on  the  way,  indeed,  he  was  too  busy  won- 
dering who  these  young  swells  were,  and  what  they 
had  run  away  for,  to  say  a  word — gave  the  band- 
master's message  to  the  effect  that  the  newcomers 
knew  some  of  the  calls  and  were  to  be  under  his 
tuition  for  the  present,  pointed  to  them  where  to 
stand,  and  in  another  minute  Tom  and  Peter  were 
hard  at  work  adding  to  the  deafening  din.  After 
half  an  hour's  practice  they  were  pleased  at  seeing 
Captain  Manley  stroll  up  and  call  their  instructor 
aside,  and  they  felt  sure  that  he  was  speaking  to 
him  of  them.  This  was  so,  for  the  officer  was 
carrying  out  the  instructions  he  had  received  from 
Colonel  Tritton. 

u  Corporal,"  he  said,  "  I  want  to  say  a  word  to 
you  about  those  boys  who  have  just  joined.  They 
seem  to  have  a  fair  idea  of  the  calls." 

"  Yes,  sir,  they  only  know  a  few,  but  those  they 
do  know  they  can  sound  as  well  as  any  of  them." 

"  That  is  right,  corporal.  ISTow  look  here,  what  I 
am  going  to  say  is  not  to  go  further,  you  under- 
stand." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  will  keep  my  mouth  shut." 

"  Very  well.  You  can  see  the  lads  are  not  like 
most  of  our  band  boys.  They  are  a  gentleman's 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  63 

sons  who  have  got  into  some  scrape  or  other  and  run 
away  from  school." 

"  I  was  thinking  as  much,  sir." 

"  The  colonel  believes  that  he  knows  their  family, 
Skinner ;  but  of  course  that  will  not  make  any  dif- 
ference in  regard  to  them.  Still  he  would  be 
pleased,  I  know,  if  they  could  sound  the  calls  well 
enough  to  go  with  the  regiment.  They  are  most 
anxious  to  learn.  Now  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  can 
get  them  up  to  the  mark.  It  will,  of  course,  entail 
a  lot  of  extra  trouble  upon  you,  but  if  you  can  get 
them  fit  in  time,  I  will  pay  you  a  couple  of  guineas 
for  your  extra  work." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  the  corporal  saluted.  "  I  think 
I  can  manage  it — at  any  rate  if  I  don't  it  won't  be 
for  want  of  trying." 

"  Who  are  those  nice-looking  lads  I  saw  with  you, 
Manley  ?"  Major  James  asked  as  the  captain  came 
into  the  messroom  to  lunch. 

"  Those  are  two  buglers  in  his  majesty's  Norfolk 
Kangers." 

There  was  a  general  laugh. 

"  No,  but  really,  Manley,  who  are  they  ?  I  was 
quite  struck  with  them  ;  good  style  of  boys." 

"  It  is  a  fact,  major.  Harding  will  tell  you  so," 
and  he  nodded  to  the  adjutant. 

"  Yes,  Manley  is  saying  the  thing  that's  right,"  the 
adjutant  answered.  "  The  doctor  passed  them,  and 
I  swore  them  in." 

"I  am  sorry  for  it,"  the  major  said.  "There 
were  three  or  four  of  us  standing  on  the  messroom 


64-  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

steps  and  we  all  noticed  them.  They  were  gentle- 
men, if  I  ever  saw  one,  and  a  hard  life  they  will 
have  of  it  with  the  band  boys.  However,  they  are 
not  likely  to  stay  there.  They  have  run  away  from 
school,  of  course,  and  will  be  claimed.  I  wonder 
you  enlisted  them." 

"  The  colonel's  orders,  major,"  the  adjutant  said, 
"Manley  took  them  to  him,  I  believe,  and  then 
brought  them  to  me." 

"  I  don't  think  you  need  feel  anxious  about  them 
among  the  boys,  major,"  Captain  Manley  said.  "  I 
fancy  they  can  hold  their  own.  I  found  them  out- 
side the  gate  where  a  row  was  going  on  among 
some  of  the  recruiting  sergeants,  and  one  of  those 
boys  had  just  tripped  up  a  sergeant  of  the  Fifteenth 
and  nearly  broken  his  head." 

There  was  a  general  laugh. 

"  They  are  quite  interesting,  these  prodigies  of 
yours,  Manley.  How  did  the  boy  do  it  ?  I  should 
not  have  thought  him  strong  enough  to  have  thrown 
a  man  off  his  balance." 

"  I  asked  Summers  about  it  afterward,"  tCaptain 
Manley  said ;  "  the  fellow  gave  one  of  the  boys  a  box 
on  the  ear,  and  in  an  instant  the  boy  stooped, 
caught  his  foot  and  pulled  it  forward  and  up.  The 
thing  was  done  in  a  moment,  and  the  sergeant  was 
on  his  back  before  he  knew  what's  what." 

"  By  Jove,"  a  young  ensign  said,  "  I  have  seen 
that  trick  done  at  Eton." 

"  That  is  just  where  the  boy  said  he  learned  it," 
Captain  Manley  said.  "The  colonel  asked  him 
suddenly,  and  it  slipped  out." 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  65 

"  If  they're  Etonians,  I  ought  to  know  them,"  the 
ensign  said.  "  I  only  left  six  months  ago.  What 
are  their  names?" 

"  Their  name  is  Scudamore." 

"  By  Jove,  they  were  in  the  same  house  with  me. 
Uncommonly  sharp  little  fellows,  and  up  to  no  end 
of  mischief.  It  was  always  believed,  though  no  one 
could  prove  it,  that  they  were  the  boys  who  nearly 
suffocated  the  bargee." 

There  was  a  roar  of  laughter. 

"  Tell  us  all  about  it,  Carruthers." 

"  Well,  there  was  not  very  much  known  about  it. 
It  seems  the  fellow  purposely  upset  a  boat  with 
four  or  five  of  our  fellows  in  it,  and  that  night  a 
dozen  lighted  crackers  were  thrown  down  into  the 
little  cabin  where  the  fellow  was  asleep  ;  the  hatch 
was  fastened  and  he  was  sent  drifting  down  stream 
with  the  crackers  exploding  all  about  him.  The 
smoke  nearly  suffocated  the  fellow,  I  believe.  There 
was  a  tremendous  row  about  it,  but  they  could  not 
bring  it  home  to  any  one.  We  always  put  it  down 
to  the  Scudamores,  though  they  never  would  own 
to  it;  but  they  were  the  only  fellows  in  the  boat 
who  would  have  done  it,  and  they  were  always  up 
to  mischief." 

"  But  what  makes  them  come  here  as  buglers  ?" 
the  major  asked. 

"  Their  father  was  a  banker,  I  believe,  down  in 
the  Eastern  Counties  somewhere.  He  died  suddenly 
in  the  middle  of  the  half  before  I  left,  and  they 


66  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

went  away  to  the  funeral  and  never  came  back 
again." 

"  The  fact  is,"  Captain  Manley  said,  "  I  fancy  by 
what  they  say,  though  they  did  not  mention  their 
father  was  a  banker,  that  he  lost  all  his  money  sud- 
denly and  died  of  the  shock.  At  any  rate  they  are 
alone  in  the  world,  and  the  colonel  has  no  doubt 
that  they  are  some  relation — nephews,  I  should 
imagine — of  Peter  Scudarnore,  who  was  our  colonel 
when  I  joined.  One  of  them  is  called  Peter.  They 
acknowledged  that  they  had  a  particular  reason  for 
choosing  this  regiment;  but  they  would  neither 
acknowledge  nor  deny  that  he  was  a  relation.  Now 
that  we  know  their  father  was  a  banker,  \ve  shall 
find  out  without  difficulty — indeed  I  have  no  doubt 
the  colonel  will  know  whether  Peter  Scudamore 
had  a  brother  a  banker." 

"  What's  to  be  done,  Manley  ?"  Major  James  said. 
"  I  don't  like  the  thought  of  poor  old  Peter's 
nephews  turning  buglers.  All  of  us  field  officers, 
and  the  best  part  of  you  captains,  served  under 
him,  and  a  better  fellow  never  stepped.  I  think 
between  us  we  might  do  something." 

"  I  would  do  anything  I  could,"  Carruthers  said, 
"  and  there  are  Watson  and  Talbot  who  were  at 
Eton  too.  Dash  it,  I  don't  like  to  think  of  two 
Etonians  in  a  band." 

"  You  are  all  very  good,"  Captain  Manley  said, 
"  but  from  what  I  see  of  the  boys  they  will  go  their 
own  way.  They  have  plenty  of  pride,  and  they 
acknowledge  that  their  reason  for  refusing  to  say 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  67 

whether  they  are  any  relation  of  the  colonel  was 
that  they  did  not  want  to  be  taken  notice  of  or 
treated  differently  from  other  boys,  because  it 
would  cause  jealousy,  and  make  their  position  more 
difficult.  All  they  asked  was  that  they  might 
accompany  the  regiment,  and  not  remain  behind 
at  the  depot ;  and  as,  fortunately,  they  have  both 
been  practicing  with  the  bugle,  and  can  sound  most 
of  the  calls  as  well  as  the  others,  the  colonel  was 
able  to  grant  their  request.  Had  they  been  older, 
of  course  we  could  have  arranged  for  them  to  go 
with  us  as  volunteers,  we,  who  knew  the  colonel, 
paying  their  expenses  between  us  ;  as  it  is,  the  only 
thing  we  can  do  for  them — and  that  is  what  they 
would  like  best — is  to  treat  them  just  like  the  other 
boys,  but  to  give  them  every  chance  of  distinguish- 
ing themselves.  If  they  don't  get  knocked  over, 
they  ought  to  win  a  commission  before  the  cam- 
paign is  over." 

In  the  meantime  Tom  and  Peter  had  been  intro- 
ducing themselves  to  the  regiment.  The  exercise 
over,  they  had  returned  to  dinner.  It  was  a  rough 
meal,  but  the  boys  enjoyed  it,  and  after  it  was  over 
a  number  of  the  men  of  the  band,  with  whom  they 
messed,  crowded  round  to  ask  the  usual  questions 
of  newcomers — their  curiosity  heightened  in  the 
present  instance  by  the  fact  that  the  boys  differed 
so  widely  from  ordinary  recruits. 

"  Look  here,"  Tom  said,  laughing.  "  I  can't  an- 
swer you  all  at  once,  but  if  you  put  me  on  the  table 
I  will  tell  you  all  about  us." 


68  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

There  was  a  general  laugh,  and  many  of  the 
soldiers  other  than  the  band  sauntered  up  to  see 
what  was  going  on. 

"  The  first  thing  to  tell  you,"  Tom  said,  "  is  our 
names.  We  go  by  the  names  of  Tom  and  Peter 
Scudamore,  but  I  need  scarcely  tell  you  that  these 
are  not  our  real  names.  The  fact  is — but  this  is 
quite  a  secret — we  are  the  eldest  sons  of  Sir  Arthur 
Wellesley " 

Here  Tom  was  interrupted  by  a  shout  of  laughter. 

"  Sir  Arthur,"  Tom  went  on  calmly,  "  wished  to 
make  us  colonels  of  two  of  the  Life  Guard  regi- 
ments, but  as  they  were  not  going  on  foreign  service 
we  did  not  see  it,  and  have  accordingly  entered  the 
regiment  which  Sir  Arthur,  our  father,  in  speaking 
to  a  friend,  said  was  the  finest  in  the  service — 
namely,  the  Norfolk  Rangers.  We  believe  that  it 
is  the  custom,  upon  entering  a  regiment,  to  pay  our 
footing,  and  I  have  given  a  guinea  to  Corporal 
Skinner,  and  asked  him  to  make  it  go  as  far  as  he 
could." 

There  was  great  laughter  over  Tom's  speech, 
which  was  just  suited  to  soldiers,  and  the  boys  from 
that  moment  were  considered  part  of  the  regiment. 

"  There's  good  stuff  in  those  boys,"  an  old  ser- 
geant said  to  another,  "  plucky  and  cool.  I  shouldn't 
be  surprised  if  what  Tom  Dillon  said  was  about 
right ;  he  was  waiting  at  mess  just  now,  and  though 
he  didn't  hear  all  that  was  said,  he  picked  up  that 
there  was  an  idea  that  these  boys  are  related  to  the 
old  colonel.  He  was  a  good  fellow,  he  was,  and, 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  69 

though  I  say  nothing  against  Colonel  Tritton,  yet 
we  missed  Colonel  Scudamore  terribly.  Strict,  and 
yet  kind,  just  the  sort  of  fellow  to  serve  under.  If 
the  boys  take  after  him  they  will  be  a  credit  to  the 
regiment,  and  mark  my  words,  we  shan't  see  them 
in  the  band  many  years." 


70  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

A    TOUGH     CUSTOMER. 

LIKE  most  boys  who  are  fond  of  play,  Tom  and 
Peter  Scudamore  were  capable  of  hard  work  at  a 
pinch,  and  during  the  three  weeks  that  they  spent 
at  Portsmouth  they  certainly  worked  with  a  will. 
They  had  nothing  to  do  in  the  way  of  duty,  except 
to  practice  the  bugle,  and  this  they  did  with  a  zeal 
and  perseverance  that  quite  won  the  heart  of  Cor- 
poral Skinner,  and  enabled  him  to  look  upon  Cap- 
tain Manley's  two  guineas  as  good  as  earned.  But 
even  with  the  best  will  and  the  strongest  lungs 
possible,  boys  can  only  blow  a  bugle  a  certain  num- 
ber of  hours  a  day.  For  an  hour  before  breakfast, 
for  two  hours  before  dinner,  and  for  an  hour  and  a 
half  in  the  evening  they  practiced,  the  evening  work 
being  extra,  alone  with  their  instructor.  There 
remained  the  whole  afternoon  to  themselves.  Their 
employment  of  those  hours  had  been  undertaken  at 
Peter's  suggestion. 

"  Look  here,  Tom,"  he  said,  at  the  end  of  the 
first  day's  work,  "from  what  the  corporal  says, 
we  shall  have  from  one  till  about  five  to  our- 
selves. Now,  we  are  going  to  Spain,  and  it 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  71 

seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  of  great  use  to  us, 
and  might  do  us  a  great  deal  of  good,  to  know 
something  of  Spanish.  We  have  got  four  pounds 
each  left,  and  I  don't  think  that  we  could  lay  it  out 
better  than  in  getting  a  Spanish  master  and  some 
books,  and  in  setting  to  in  earnest  at  it.  If  we 
work  with  all  our  might  for  four  hours  a  day  with 
a  master,  we  shall  have  made  some  progress,  and 
shall  pick  up  the  pronunciation  a  little.  I  dare  say 
we  shall  be  another  ten  days  or  a  fortnight  on  the 
voyage,  and  shall  have  lots  of  time  on  our  hands. 
It  will  make  it  so  much  easier  to  pick  it  up  when 
we  get  there  if  we  know  a  little  to  start  with." 

"  I  think  it  is  a  capital  idea,  Peter  ;  I  should  think 
we  are  pretty  sure  to  find  a  master  here." 

There  was  no  difficulty  upon  that  score,  for  there 
were  a  large  number  of  Spanish  in  England  at  the 
time ;  men  who  had  left  the  country  rather  than  re- 
main under  the  French  yoke,  and  among  them  were 
many  who  were  glad  to  get  their  living  by  teaching 
their  native  language.  There  were  two  or  three  in 
this  condition  in  Portsmouth,  and  to  one  of  these 
the  boys  applied.  He  was  rather  surprised  at  the 
application  from  the  two  young  buglers — for  the 
uniforms  were  finished  twenty-four  hours  after  their 
arrival — but  at  once  agreed  to  devote  his  whole 
afternoons  to  them.  Having  a  strong  motive  for 
their  work,  and  a  determination  to  succeed  in  it, 
the  boys  made  a  progress  that  astonished  both  them- 
selves and  their  teacher,  and  they  now  found  the 
advantage  of  their  grounding  in  Latin  at  Eton. 


72  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Absorbed  in  their  work,  they  saw  little  of  the  other 
boys,  except  at  meals  and  when  at  practice. 

One  evening  when  at  supper,  one  of  the  buglers, 
named  Mitcham,  a  lad  of  nearly  eighteen,  made 
some  sneering  remark  about  boys  who  thought 
themselves  above  others,  and  gave  themselves  airs. 
Tom  saw  at  once  that  this  allusion  was  meant  for 
them,  and  took  the  matter  up. 

"  I  suppose  you  mean  us,  Mitcham.  You  are 
quite  mistaken ;  neither  my  brother  nor  myself 
think  ourselves  better  than  any  one,  nor  have  we 
any  idea  of  giving  ourselves  airs.  The  fact  is — and 
I  am  not  surprised  that  you  should  think  us  un- 
sociable— we  are  taking  lessons  in  Spanish.  If  we 
go  with  the  regiment  it  will  be  very  useful,  and  I 
have  heard  it  said  that  any  one  who  lands  in  a 
foreign  country,  and  who  knows  a  little  of  the 
grammar  and  pronunciation,  will  learn  it  in  half  the 
time  that  he  would  were  he  altogether  ignorant  of 
both.  I  am  sorry  that  I  did  not  mention  it  before, 
because  I  can  understand  that  it  must  seem  as  if  we 
did  not  want  to  be  sociable.  I  can  assure  you  that 
we  do ;  and  that  after  this  fortnight  is  over  we 
shall  be  ready  to  be  as  jolly  as  any  one.  You  see 
we  are  altogether  behindhand  with  our  work 
now,  and  have  got  to  work  hard  to  put  ourselves  on 
your  level." 

Tom  spoke  so  good-temperedly  that  there  was  a 
general  feeling  in  his  favor,  and  several  of  them  who 
had  before  thought  with  Mitcham,  that  the  new- 
comers were  not  inclined  to  be  sociable,  felt  that 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  Tl 

they  had  been  mistaken.  There  was,  however,  a 
general  feeling  of  surprise  and  amusement  at  the 
idea  of  two  boys  voluntarily  taking  lessons  in 
Spanish.  Mitcham,  however,  who  was  a  surly- 
tempered  young  fellow,  and  who  was  jealous  of  the 
progress  which  the  boys  were  making,  and  of  the 
general  liking  with  which  they  seemed  to  be  re- 
garded, said : 

"  I  believe  that's  only  an  excuse  for  getting  away 
from  us." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  think  that  I  am 
telling  a  lie  ?"  Tom  asked  quietly. 

"  Yes,  if  you  put  it  in  that  way,  young  'un," 
Mitcham  said. 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  Mitcham,  or  I'll  pull  your 
ears  for  you,"  Corporal  Skinner  said  ;  but  his  speech 
was  cut  short  by  Tom's  putting  one  hand  on  the 
barrack  table,  vaulting  across  it,  and  striking  Mit- 
cham a  heavy  blow  between  the  eyes. 

There  was  a  cry  of  "  a  fight !"  among  the  boys, 
but  the  men  interfered  at  once. 

"  You  don't  know  what  you  are  doing,  young 
'un,"  one  said  to  Tom;  "when  you  hit  a  fellow 
here,  you  must  fight  him.  That's  the  rule,  and  you 
can't  fight  Mitcham  ;  he's  two  years  older,  at  least, 
and  a  head  taller." 

"  Of  course  I  will  fight  him,"  Tom  said.  "  I 
would  fight  him  if  he  were  twice  as  big,  if  he  called 
me  a  liar." 

"Nonsense,  young  'un!"  another  said,  "it's  not 
possible.  He  was  wrong,  and  if  you  had  not  struck 


74  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

him  I  would  have  licked  him  myself ;  but  as  you 
have  done  so,  you  had  better  put  up  with  a  thrash- 
ing, and  have  done  with  it." 

"  I  should  think  so,  indeed !"  Tom  said  disdain- 
fully. "  I  may  get  a  licking  ;  I  dare  say  I  shall ; 
but  it  won't  be  all  on  one  side.  Look  here,  Mit- 
cham,  we  will  have  it  out  to-morrow,  on  the  rain- 
parts  behind  the  barracks.  But  if  you  will  apolo- 
gize to  me  for  calling  me  a  liar,  I'll  say  I  am  sorry 
I  hit  you." 

"Oh,  blow  your  sorrow!"  the  lad  said.  "I'll 
give  you  the  heartiest  licking  you  ever  had  in  your 
life,  my  young  cock." 

"  Oh,  all  right,"  Tom  said  cheerfully.  "  We  will 
see  all  about  it  when  the  time  comes." 

As  it  was  evident  now  that  there  was  no  way 
out  of  it,  no  one  interfered  further  in  the  matter. 
Quarrels  in  the  army  are  always  settled  by  a  fair 
fight,  as  at  school ;  but  several  of  the  older  men 
questioned  among  themselves  whether  they  ought 
to  let  this  go  on,  considering  that  Tom  Scudamore 
was  only  between  fifteen  and  sixteen,  while  his 
opponent  was  two  years  older,  and  was  so  much 
heavier  and  stronger.  However,  as  it  was  plain 
that  Tom  would  not  take  a  thrashing  for  the  blow 
he  had  struck,  and  there  did  not  seem  any  satis- 
factory way  out  of  it,  nothing  was  done,  except 
that  two  or  three  of  them  went  up  to  Mitcham,  and 
strongly  urged  him  to  shake  hands  with  Tom,  and 
confess  that  he  had  done  wrong  in  giving  him  the 
lie.  This  Mitcham  would  not  hear  of,  and  there 
was  nothing  further  to  be  done. 


HE  FACED  HIS  ANTAGONIST  AND  MANAGED  TO  STKIKE  A  FEW 
STRAIGHT  BLOWS. — Page  75. 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  75 

"  I  ara  afraid,  Tom,  you  have  no  chance  with  that 
fellow,"  Peter  said,  as  they  were  undressing. 

"  No  chance  in  the  world,  Peter ;  but  I  can  box 
fairly,  you  know,  and  am  pretty  hard.  I  shall  be 
able  to  punish  him  a  bit,  and  you  may  be  sure  I 
shall  never  give  in.  It's  no  great  odds  getting  a 
licking,  and  I  suppose  that  they  will  stop  it  before 
I  am  killed.  Don't  bother  about  it.  I  had  rather 
get  knocked  about  in  a  fight  than  get  flogged  at 
Eton  any  day.  I  would  rather  you  did  not  come 
to  see  it,  Peter,  if  you  don't  mind.  When  you 
fought  Evans  it  hurt  me  ten  times  as  much  as  if  I 
had  been  fighting,  and,  although  you  licked  him,  it 
made  me  feel  like  a  girl.  I  can  stand  twice  the 
punishment  if  I  don't  feel  that  any  blow  is  hitting 
you  as  well  as  myself." 

Tom's  prediction  about  the  fight  turned  out  to  be 
nearly  correct.  He  was  more  active,  and  a  vastly 
better  boxer  than  his  antagonist,  and  although  he 
was  constantly  knocked  down,  he  punished  him 
very  heavily  about  the  face.  In  fact,  the  fight  was 
exactly  similar  to  that  great  battle,  fifty  years 
afterward,  between  Sayers  and  Heenan.  Time 
after  time  Tom  was  knocked  down,  and  even  his 
second  begged  him  to  give  in,  but  he  would  not 
hear  of  it. 

Breathless  and  exhausted,  but  always  cool  and 
smiling,  he  faced  his  heavy  antagonist,  eluding  his 
furious  rushes,  and  managing  to  strike  a  few  straight 
blows  at  his  eyes  before  being  knocked  down.  By 
the  time  that  they  had  fought  a  quarter  of  an  hour 


76  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

half  the  regiment  was  assembled,  and  loud  were  the 
cheers  which  greeted  Tom  each  time  he  came  up, 
very  pale  and  bleeding,  but  confident,  against  his 
antagonist. 

At  last  an  old  sergeant  came  forward.  "  Come," 
he  said,  "  there  has  been  enough  of  this.  You  had 
better  stop." 

"  Will  he  say  he  was  sorry  be  called  me  a  liar  ?" 
Tom  asked. 

"  No,  I  won't,"  Mitcham  answered. 

The  sergeant  was  about  to  use  his  authority  to 
stop  it,  when  Tom  said  to  him  in  a  low  voice : 

"  Look,  sergeant !  please  let  us  go  on  another  five 
minutes.  I  think  I  can  stand  that,  and  he  can 
hardly  see  out  of  his  eyes  now.  He  won't  see  a  bit 
by  that  time." 

The  sergeant  hesitated,  but  a  glance  at  Tom's 
antagonist  convinced  him  that  what  he  said  was 
correct.  Mitcham  had  at  all  times  a  round  and 
rather  puffy  face,  and  his  cheeks  \vere  now  so  swol- 
len with  the  effect  of  Tom's  straight,  steady  hitting, 
that  he  could  with  difficulty  see. 

It  was  a  hard  five  minutes  for  Tom,  for  his  antag- 
onist, finding  that  he  was  rapidly  getting  blind, 
rushed  with  fury  upon  him,  trying  to  end  the  fight. 
Tom  had  less  difficulty  in  guarding  the  blows,  given 
wildly  and  almost  at  random,  but  he  was  knocked 
down  time  after  time  by  the  mere  force  and  weight 
of  the  rush.  He  felt  himself  getting  weak,  and 
could  hardly  get  up  from  his  second's  knee  upon  the 
call  of  time.  He  was  not  afraid  of  being  made  to 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  7? 

give  in,  but  he  was  afraid  of  fainting,  and  of  so 
being  unable  to  come  up  to  time. 

"  Stick  a  knife  into  me ;  do  anything !"  he  said  to 
his  second,  "  if  I  go  off,  only  bring  me  up  to  time. 
He  can't  hold  out  much  longer." 

Nor  could  he.  His  hitting  became  more  and 
more  at  random,  until  at  last,  on  getting  up  from 
his  second's  knee,  Mitcham  cried  in  a  hoarse  voice : 
"  Where  is  he  ?  I  can't  see  him !" 

Then  Tom  went  forward  with  his  hands  down. 
"  Look  here,  Mitcham,  you  can't  see,  and  I  can 
hardly  stand.  I  think  we  have  both  done  enough. 
We  neither  of  us  can  give  in,  well,  because — be- 
cause I  am  a  gentleman,  you  because  you  are  bigger 
than  I  am  ;  so  let's  shake  hands,  and  say  no  more 
about  it." 

Mitcham  hesitated  an  instant,  and  then  held  out 
his  hand.  "  You  are  a  good  fellow,  Scudamore,  and 
there's  my  hand  ;  but  you  have  licked  me  fairly.  I 
can't  come  up  to  time,  and  you  can.  There,  I  am 
sorry  I  called  you  a  liar." 

Tom  took  the  hand,  and  shook  it,  and  then  a  mist 
came  over  his  eyes,  and  his  knees  tottered,  as  with 
the  ringing  cheers  of  the  men  in  his  ears,  he  fainted 
into  his  second's  arms. 

"  What  a  row  the  men  are  making !"  the  major 
said,  as  the  sound  of  cheering  came  through  the 
open  window  of  the  messroom,  at  which  the  officers 
were  sitting  at  lunch.  "  It's  a  fight,  of  course,  and 
a  good  one,  judging  by  the  cheering.  Does  any  one 
know  who  it  is  between  ?" 


78  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

No  one  had  heard. 

"  It's  over  now,"  the  adjutant  said,  looking  out 
of  the  window.  "  Here  are  the  men  coming  down 
in  a  stream.  They  look  very  excited  over  it.  I 
wonder  who  it  has  been.  Stokes,"  he  said,  turning 
to  one  of  the  mess  servants,  "  go  out,  and  find  out 
who  has  been  fighting,  and  all  about  it." 

In  a  minute  or  two  the  man  returned.  "  It's  two 
of  the  band  boys,  sir." 

"  Oh,  only  two  boys  !  I  wonder  they  made  such 
a  fuss  over  that.  Who  are  they  ?" 

"  One  was  one  of  the  boys  who  have  just  joined, 
sir.  Tom  Scudamore,  they  call  him." 

"I  guessed  as  much,"  Captain  Manley  laughed; 
"  I  knew  they  would  not  be  long  here  without  a 
fight.  Who  was  the  other  ?" 

"  Well,  sir,  I  almost  thought  it  must  be  a  mistake 
when  they  told  me,  seeing  they  are  so  unequally 
matched,  but  they  all  say  so,  so  in  course  it's  true 
— the  other  was  Mitcham,  the  bugler  of  No.  3 
Company." 

"  What  a  shame !"  was  the  general  exclamation, 
while  Captain  Manley  got  up  and  called  for  his 
cap. 

"  A  brutal  shame,  I  call  it,"  he  said  hotly. 
"  Mitcham's  nearly  a  man.  It  ought  not  to  have 
been  allowed.  I  will  go  and  inquire  after  the  boy. 
I  will  bet  five  pounds  he  was  pretty  nearly  killed 
before  he  gave  in." 

"  He  didn't  give  in,  Captain  Manley,"  the  servant 
said.  "He  won  the  fight.  They  fought  till 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  79 

Mitcham  couldn't  see,  and  then  young  Scudamore 
went  up  and  offered  to  draw  it,  but  Mitcham 
acknowledged  he  was  fairly  licked.  It  was  a  close 
thing,  for  the  boy  fainted  right  off ;  but  he's  come 
round  now,  and  says  he's  all  right." 

"  Hurrah  for  Eton !"  Carruthers  shouted  enthusi- 
astically. "  Hurrah  !  By  Jove,  he  is  game,  and  no 
mistake.  He  won  a  hard  fight  or  two  at  Eton,  but 
nothing  like  this.  I  call  it  splendid." 

"  The  boy  might  have  been  killed,"  the  major 
said  gravely ;  while  the  younger  officers  joined  in 
Carruthers'  exclamation  at  Tom's  pluck.  "  It  is 
shameful  that  it  was  allowed.  I  suppose  the 
quarrel  began  in  their  quarters.  Sergeant  Howden 
is  in  charge  of  the  room,  and  ought  to  have  stopped 
it  at  once.  Every  non-commissioned  officer  ought 
to  have  stopped  it.  I  will  have  Howden  up  before 
the  colonel  to-morrow." 

"  I  think,  major,"  Captain  Manley  said,  "  if  you 
will  excuse  me,  the  best  plan,  as  far  as  the  boy  is 
concerned,  is  to  take  no  notice  of  it.  As  it  is,  he 
must  have  won  the  hearts  of  all  the  regiment  by  his 
pluck,  and  if  he  is  not  seriously  hurt,  it  is  the  very 
best  thing,  as  it  has  turned  out,  that  could  have 
happened.  If  any  one  gets  into  a  scrape  about  it, 
it  might  lessen  the  effect  of  the  victory.  I  think  if 
you  call  Howden  up,  and  give  him  a  quiet  wigging, 
it  will  do  as  well,  and  won't  injure  the  boys.  What 
do  you  think  ?" 

"  Yes,  you  are  right,  Manley,  as  it  has  turned 
out ;  but  the  boy  might  have  been  killed.  How- 


80  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

ever,  I  won't  do  more  than  give  Hovvden  a  hearty 
wigging,  and  will  then  learn  how  the  affair  began. 
I  think,  Dr.  Stathers,  that  it  would  be  as  well  if 
you  went  round  and  saw  both  of  them.  You  had 
better,  I  think,  order  them  into  hospital  for  the 
night  and  then  the  boy  can  go  to  bed  at  once,  and 
come  out  again  to-morrow,  if  he  has,  as  I  hope, 
nothing  worse  than  a  few  bruises.  Please  come 
back,  and  tell  us  how  you  find  them." 

The  report  was  favorable,  and  the  next  morning 
Tom  came  out  of  hospital,  and  took  his  place  as 
usual,  with  the  party  upon  the  ramparts — pale,  and 
a  good  deal  marked,  but  not  much  the  worse  for  his 
battle  ;  but  it  was  some  days  before  the  swelling  of 
his  adversary's  face  subsided  sufficiently  for  him  to 
return  to  duty. 

Tom's  victory — as  Captain  Manley  had  predicted 
— quite  won  the  hearts  of  the  whole  regiment,  and 
the  nicknames  of  "  Sir  Tom,"  and  "  Sir  Peter"- 
which  had  been  given  to  them  in  jest  after  Tom's 
speech  about  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley — were  now 
generally  applied  to  them.  The  conversation  in 
the  messroom  had  got  about,  and  the  old  soldiers 
who  had  served  under  Colonel  Scudamore  would 
have  done  anything  for  the  lads,  although,  as  yet, 
they  were  hardly  known  personally  except  to  the 
band,  as  their  devotion  to  work  kept  them  quite 
apart  from  the  men. 

It  was  just  three  weeks  after  they  had  joined  be- 
fore the  order  came  for  embarkation,  and  a  thrill 
of  pleasure  and  excitement  ran  through  the  regi- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  81 

ment  when  it  was  known  that  they  were  to  go  on 
board  in  four  days.  Not  the  least  delighted  were 
Tom  and  Peter.  It  had  already  been  formally 
settled  that  they  were  to  accompany  the  regiment, 
and  it  was  a  proof  of  the  popularity  that  they  had 
gained,  that  every  one  looked  upon  their  going  as  a 
matter  of  course,  and  that  no  comment  was  excited 
even  among  those  who  were  left  behind.  Three 
days  before  starting  they  had  met  Captain  Manley 
in  the  barrack-yard,  and  after  saluting  Tom  said, 
u  If  you  please  sir,  we  wanted  to  ask  you  a  ques- 
tion." 

"What  is  that,  lads?" 

"  If  you  please,  sir,  we  understand  that  the  boys 
of  the  band  have  their  bags  carried  for  them,  but 
the  company  buglers  carry  knapsacks,  like  the 
men  ?" 

"Yes,  boys;  the  company  buglers  carry  knap- 
sacks and  muskets." 

"  I  am  afraid  we  could  not  carry  muskets  and  do 
much  marching,  sir,  but  we  have  each  a  brace  of 
pistols." 

Captain  Manley  smiled.  "  Pistols  would  not  look 
the  thing  on  a  parade-ground,  boys ;  but  in  a  cam- 
paign people  are  not  very  particular,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  the  colonel  will  overlook  any  little  breach  of 
strict  uniformity  in  your  cases,  as  it  is  evident  you 
can't  carry  muskets.  You  can  use  your  pistols.  I 
hope,"  he  said  with  a  smile.  "  Hit  a  penny  every 
time  at  twenty  paces !" 

"  No,  sir,  we  can't  do  that,"  Tom  said  seriously. 


82  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"We  can  hit  a  good-sized  apple  nineteen  times  out 
of  twenty." 

"  The  deuce  you  can !"  Captain  Manley  said, 
"  How  did  you  learn  to  do  that  ?" 

"  We  have  practiced  twelve  shots  a  day  for  the 
last  six  months,  sir.  We  were  thinking  of  asking 
you,  sir,  if  you  would  like  to  carry  a  brace  of  them 
through  the  campaign.  They  are  splendid  weapons, 
and  we  shall  only  carry  one  each.  They  would  get 
rusty  and  spoil  if  we  left  them  behind,  and  we 
should  be  very  pleased  to  think  they  might  be  useful 
to  you,  after  your  great  kindness  to  us." 

"  It  is  not  a  very  regular  thing,  boys,"  Captain 
Manly  said,  "  for  a  captain  to  be  borrowing  a  brace 
of  pistols  from  two  of  his  buglers ;  but  you  are  ex- 
ceptional buglers,  and  there  is  something  in  what 
you  say  about  rusting.  Besides,  it  is  possible  you 
may  lose  yours,  so  I  will  accept  your  offer  with 
thanks,  with  the  understanding  that  I  will  carry  the 
pistols,  and  you  shall  have  them  again  if  anything 
happens  to  yours.  But  how  about  the  knapsacks  ?" 

"  We  were  thinking  of  having  two  made  of  the 
regimental  pattern,  sir,  but  smaller  and  lighter,  if 
you  think  that  it  would  be  allowed." 

"  Well,  I  think,  boys,  if  you  are  allowed  to  carry 
pistols  instead  of  muskets,  no  great  objection  will 
be  made  as  to  the  exact  size  of  the  knapsacks.  Yes, 
you  can  get  them  made,  and  I  will  speak  to  the 
colonel  about  it." 

"  Perhaps,"  he  hesitated,  "  you  may  be  in  want 
of  a  little  money ;  do  not  hesitate  if  you  do.  I  can 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  83 

let  you  have  five  pounds,  and  you  can  pay  me,'5  he 
said  with  a  laugh,  "  out  of  your  share  of  our  first 
prize-money." 

The  boys  colored  hotly. 

"  No,  thank  you,  Captain  Manley  ;  we  have  plenty 
of  money.  Shall  we  bring  the  pistols  to  your 
quarters  ?" 

"  Do,  lads ;  I  am  going  in  to  lunch  now,  and  will 
be  in  in  half  an  hour." 

The  boys  at  once  went  out  and  ordered  their 
knapsacks.  They  had  just  sold  their  watches, 
which  were  large,  handsome,  and  of  gold,  and  had 
been  given  to  them  by  their  father  when  they  went 
to  Eton.  They  were  very  sorry  to  part  with  them, 
but  they  agreed  that  it  would  be  folly  to  keep  gold 
watches  when  the  twenty  pounds  which  they  ob- 
tained for  them  would  buy  two  stout  and  useful 
silver  watches  and  would  leave  them  twelve  pounds 
in  money.  They  then  returned  to  barracks,  took 
out  a  brace  of  their  pistols,  carefully  cleaned  them, 
and  removed  the  silver  plates  upon  the  handles, 
and  then  walked  across  to  Captain  Manley's  quar- 
ters. 

Rather  to  their  surprise  and  confusion  they  found 
five  or  six  other  officers  there,  for  Captain  Manley 
had  mentioned  at  lunch,  to  the  amusement  of  his 
friends,  that  he  was  going  to  be  unexpectedly  pro- 
vided with  a  brace  of  pistols,  and  several  of  them 
at  once  said  that  they  would  go  up  with  him  to  his 
quarters,  as  they  wanted  to  see  the  boys  of  whom 
they  had  spoken  so  much  during  the  last  fortnight. 


84  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Tom  and  Peter  drew  themselves  up  and  saluted 
stiffly. 

"  You  need  not  be  buglers  here,  boys,"  Captain 
Manley  said.  "  This  is  my  room  ;  we  are  all  gentle- 
men, and  though  I  could  not,  according  to  the  reg- 
ulations, walk  down  the  street  with  you,  the 
strictest  disciplinarian  would  excuse  my  doing  as  I 
like  here." 

The  boys  flushed  with  pleasure  at  Captain  Man- 
ley's  kind  address,  and  as  he  finished  Carruthers 
stepped  forward  and  shook  them  warmly  by  the 
hand. 

"  How  are  you  both  ?"  he  said.  "  You  have  not 
forgotten  me,  I  hope?" 

"  I  had  not  seen  you  before.  I  did  not  know  you 
were  in  the  regiment,  Carruthers,"  the  boys  said 
warmly,  pleased  to  find  a  face  they  had  known  be- 
fore ;  and  then,  breaking  off — "  I  beg  your  pardon 
— Mr.  Carruthers." 

"  There  are  no  misters  here  as  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned, Scudamore.  There  were  no  misters  at 
Eton.  This  is  a  change,  isn't  it?  Better  than  grind- 
ing away  at  Greek  by  a  long  way.  Well,  I  con- 
gratulate you  on  your  fight.  You  showed  there 
was  some  good  in  dear  old  Eton  still.  I  wish  you 
had  let  me  know  it  was  coming  off.  I  would 
have  given  anything  to  have  seen  it — from  a  dis- 
tance, you  know.  If  it  had  been  the  right  thing  I 
would  have  come  and  been  your  backer." 

There  was  a  general  laugh,  and  then  the  officers 
all  began  to  talk  to  the  boys.  They  were  quiet  and 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  85 

respectful  in  their  manners,  and  fully  confirmed  the 
favorable  report  which  Captain  Manley  had  given 
of  them. 

"  Where  are  the  pistols,  boys  ?"  their  friend  asked 
presently. 

"  Here,  sir,"  and  the  boys  produced  them  from 
under  their  jackets.  "  We  have  no  case,  sir ;  we 
were  obliged  to  leave  it  behind  us  when  we " 

"  Ran  away,"  one  of  the  officers  said,  laughing. 

"They  are  a  splendid  pair  of  pistols,"  Captain 
Manley  said,  examining  them ;  "  beautifully  finished, 
and  rilled.  They  look  quite  new,  too,  though,  of 
course,  they  are  not." 

"  They  are  new,  sir,"  Tom  said  ;  "  we  have  only 
had  them  six  months,  and  they  were  new  then." 

"  Indeed,"  Captain  Manley  said,  surprised ;  "  I 
thought,  of  course,  they  were  family  pistols.  Why, 
how  on  earth,  if  it  is  not  an  impertinent  question, 
did  you  boys  get  hold  of  two  brace  of  such  pistols 
as  these  ?  I  have  no  right  to  ask  the  question,  boys. 
I  see  there  has  been  a  plate  on  the  handles.  But 
you  said  you  had  no  relations,  and  I  was  surprised 
into  asking." 

The  boys  colored. 

"  The  question  was  quite  natural,  sir ;  the  pistols 
were  presented  to  us  by  some  people  we  traveled 
with  once ;  we  took  the  plates  off  because  they 
made  a  great  fuss  about  nothing,  and  we  thought 
that  it  would  look  cockey." 

There  was  a  laugh  among  the  officers  at  the  boys' 
confusion. 


86  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"No  one  would  suspect  you  of  being  cockey, 
Soudamore,"  Captain  Manley  said  kindly  ;  "  come, 
let  me  see  the  plates." 

The  boys  took  the  little  silver  plates  from  their 
pockets  and  handed  them  silently  to  Captain  Man- 
ley,  who  read  aloud,  to  the  surprise  of  those  around 
him — "  '  To  Tom '  and  '  Peter,'  they  are  alike  except 
the  names.  '  To  Tom  Scudamore,  presented  by  the 
passengers  in  the  Highflyer  coach  on  the  4th  of 
August,  1808,  as  a  testimony  of  their  appreciation 
of  his  gallant  conduct,  by  which  their  property  was 
saved  from  plunder.'  Why,  what  is  this,  you  young 
pickles,  what  were  you  up  to  on  the  4th  of  August 
last  year  ?" 

"  There  was  nothing  in  it  at  all,  sir,"  Tom  said  ; 
"  we  were  on  the  coach  and  were  stopped  by  high- 
waymen. One  of  the  passengers  had  pistols,  but 
was  afraid  to  use  them,  and  hid  them  among  the 
boxes.  So  when  the  passengers  were  ordered  to  get 
down  to  be  searched,  we  hid  ourselves,  and  when 
the  highwaymen  were  collecting  their  watches, 
Peter  shot  one,  and  I  drove  the  coach  over  another. 
The  matter  was  very  simple  indeed ;  but  the  pas- 
sengers saved  their  money,  so  made  a  great  fuss 
about  it." 

There  was  much  laughter  over  Tom's  statement, 
and  then  he  had  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  the 
whole  affair,  which  elicited  many  expressions  of 
approval. 

"  It  does  you  credit,  boys,"  Captain  Manley  said, 
"  and  shows  that  you  are  cool  as  well  as  plucky. 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  87 

One  quality  is  as  valuable  as  the  other.  There  is 
every  hope  that  you  will  do  the  regiment  credit, 
boys,  and  you  may  be  sure  that  we  shall  give  you 
every  chance.  And  now  good-by  for  the  present." 

"  Good-by,  sir."  Tom  and  Peter  again  drew  them- 
selves up,  gave  the  military  salute,  and  went  off  to 
their  comrades. 

For  when  the  order  came  to  prepare  for  the  em- 
barkation, both  Spanish  and  bugling  were  given  up, 
and  the  boys  entered  into  the  pleasure  of  the  holi- 
day with  immense  zest.  They  had  no  regimental 
duties  to  perform  beyond  being  present  at  parade. 
They  had  no  packing  to  do,  and  fewer  purchases  to 
make.  A  ball  or  two  of  stout  string,  for,  as  Peter 
said,  string  is  always  handy,  and  a  large  pocket 
knife,  each  with  a  variety  of  blades,  were  the  prin- 
cipal items.  They  had  a  ring  put  to  the  knives,  so 
that  they  could  sling  them  round  the  waist.  They 
had,  therefore,  nothing  to  do  but  to  amuse  them- 
selves, and  this  they  did  with  a  heartiness  which 
astonished  the  other  boys,  and  proved  conclusively 
that  they  did  not  want  to  be  unsociable.  They  hired 
a  boat  for  a  sail  and  took  five  or  six  other  boys 
across  to  Ryde,  only  just  returning  in  time  for 
tattoo,  and  they  played  such  a  number  of  small 
practical  jokes,  such  as  putting  a  handful  of  peas 
into  the  bugles  and  other  wind  instruments,  that  the 
bandmaster  declared  that  he  thought  that  they 
were  all  bewitched,  and  he  threatened  to  thrash  the 
boys  all  round,  because  he  could  not  find  out  who 
had  done  it. 


88  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Especially  angry  was  the  man  who  played  the  big 
drum.  This  was  a  gigantic  negro,  named  Sam,  a 
kind-hearted  fello\v,  constantly  smiling,  except  when 
the  thought  of  his  own  importance  made  him  as- 
sume a  particularly  grave  appearance.  He  was  a 
general  favorite,  although  the  boys  were  rather 
afraid  of  him,  for  he  was  apt  to  get  into  a  passion  if 
any  jokes  were  attempted  upon  him,  and  of  all  of- 
fenses the  greatest  was  to  call  him  Sambo.  Now 
none  of  the  men  ventured  upon  this,  for  when  he 
first  joined  Sam  had  fought  two  or  three  desperate 
battles  on  this  ground,  and  his  great  strength  and 
the  insensibility  of  his  head  to  blows  had  invariably 
given  him  the  victory.  But,  treated  with  what  he 
conceived  proper  respect,  Sara  was  one  of  the  best- 
tempered  and  best-natured  fellows  in  the  regiment ; 
and  he  himself,  when  he  once  cooled  down,  was 
perfectly  ready  to  join  the  laugh  against  himself, 
even  after  he  had  been  most  put  out  by  a  joke. 

The  day  before  the  regiment  was  to  embark  the 
officers  gave  a  lawn  party ;  a  large  number  of  ladies 
were  present,  and  the  band  was,  of  course,  to  play. 
The  piece  which  the  bandmaster  had  selected  for 
the  commencement  began  with  two  distinct  beats 
of  the  big  drum.  Just  before  it  began  Captain 
Manley  saw  Tom  and  Peter,  who  with  some  of  the 
other  boys  had  brought  the  music-stands  into  the 
ground,  with  their  faces  bright  with  anticipated  fun. 

"  What  is  the  joke,  boys?"  he  asked  good-humor- 
edly,  as  he  passed  them. 

"I  can't  tell  you,  sir,"  Tom   said;  "but  if  you 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  89 

walk  up  close  to  the  band,  and  watch  Sam's  face 
when  he  begins,  you  will  be  amused,  I  think." 

"Those  are  regular  young  pickles,"  Captain 
Manley  said  to  the  lady  he  was  walking  with; 
"they  are  Etonians  who  have  run  away  from  home, 
and  are  up  to  all  kinds  of  mischief,  but  are  the 
pluckiest  and  most  straightforward  youngsters  im- 
aginable. I  have  no  doubt  that  they  are  up  to  some 
trick  with  our  black  drummer." 

On  their  way  to  where  the  band  was  preparing  to 
play,  Captain  Manley  said  a  word  or  two  to  several 
of  the  other  officers,  consequently  there  was  quite  a 
little  party  standing  watching  the  band  when  their 
leader  lifted  his  baton  for  the  overture  to  begin. 

There  was  nothing  that  Sam  liked  better  than  for 
the  big  drum  to  commence,  and  with  his  head  thrown 
well  back  and  an  air  of  extreme  importance,  he 
lifted  his  arm  and  brought  it  down  with  whatshould 
have  been  a  sounding  blow  upon  the  drum.  To  his 
astonishment  and  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  band,  no 
deep  boom  was  heard,  only  a  low  muffled  sound. 
Mechanically  Sam  raised  his  other  arm  and  let  it 
fall  with  a  similar  result.  Sam  looked  a  picture  of 
utter  astonishment  and  dismay,  with  his  eyes  opened 
to  their  fullest,  and  he  gave  vent  to  a  loud  cry, 
which  completed  the  effect  produced  by  his  face, 
and  set  most  of  those  looking  on,  and  even  the  band 
themselves,  into  a  roar  of  laughter.  Sam  now  ex- 
amined his  sticks;  they  appeared  all  right  to  the 
eye,  but  directly  he  felt  them  his  astonishment 
was  turned  into  rage.  They  were  perfectly  soft. 


90  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Taking  out  his  knife  he  cut  them  open,  and  found 
that  the  balls  were  merely  filled  with  a  wad  of  soft 
cotton,  the  necessary  weight  being  given  by  pieces 
of  lead  fastened  round  the  end  of  the  stick  inside 
the  ball  with  waxed  thread. 

Sam  was  too  enraged  to  say  more  than  his  usual 
exclamation  of  astonishment,  "  Golly  !"  and  he  held 
out  his  drumsticks  to  be  examined  with  the  face  of 
a  black  statue  of  surprise. 

Even  the  bandmaster  was  obliged  to  laugh  as  he 
took  the  sticks  from  Sam's  hand  to  examine  them. 

"  These  are  not  your  sticks  at  all,  Sara,"  he  said, 
looking  closely  at  them.  "  Here,  boy,"  he  called 
to  Tom,  who  might  have  been  detected  from  the 
fact  of  his  being  the  only  person  present  with  a 
serious  face,  "  run  to  the  bandroom  and  see  if  you 
can  find  the  sticks." 

In  a  few  minutes  Tom  returned  with  the  real 
drumsticks,  which,  he  said  truly,  he  had  found  on 
the  shelf  where  they  were  usually  kept.  After 
that  things  went  on  as  usual ;  Sam  played  with  a 
sulky  fury.  His  dignity  was  injured,  and  he  de- 
clared over  and  over  again  that  if  he  could  "  find  de 
rascal  who  did  it,  by  jingo,  I  pound  him  to  squash  !" 
and  there  was  no  doubt  from  his  look  that  he 
thoroughly  meant  what  he  said.  However,  no  in- 
quiries could  bring  to  light  the  author  of  the  trick. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER   Y. 

OVERBOARD. 

THERE  were  no  lighter  hearts  than  those  of  Tom 
and  Peter  Scudamore  on  board  the  transport  Nancy, 
as,  among  the  hearty  cheers  of  the  troops  on  board, 
and  the  "waving  of  hats  and  handkerchiefs  from 
friends  who  had  come  out  in  small  boats  to  say 
good-by  for  the  last  time,  she  weighed  anchor,  and 
set  sail  in  company  with  some  ten  or  twelve  other 
transports,  and  under  convoy  of  two  ships  of  war. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  a  prettier  scene. 
The  guns  fired,  the  bands  of  the  various  regiments 
played,  and  the  white  sails  opened  out  bright  in 
the  sun  as  the  sailors  swarmed  into  the  rigging, 
anxious  to  outvie  each  other.  Even  the  soldiers 
pulled  and  hauled  at  the  ropes,  and  ran  round  with 
the  capstan  bars  to  get  the  anchors  apeak.  Tom 
and  Peter,  of  course,  had,  like  the  other  boys,  got 
very  much  in  the  way  in  their  desire  to  assist,  and, 
having  been  once  or  twice  knocked  over  by  the 
rush  of  men  coming  along  with  ropes,  they  wisely 
gave  it  up,  and  leaned  over  the  side  to  enjoy  the 
scene. 

"  This  is  splendid,  Tom,  isn't  it  ?" 


92  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Glorious,  Peter  ;  but  it's  blowing  pretty  strong. 
I  am  afraid  that  we  shan't  find  it  quite  so  glorious 
when  we  get  out  of  the  shelter  of  the  island." 

Peter  laughed.  "  No ;  I  suppose  we  shan't  all 
look  as  jolly  as  we  do  now  by  night  time.  How- 
ever, the  wind  is  nor' westerly,  which  will  help  us 
along  nicely,  if,  as  I  heard  one  of  the  sailors  say 
just  now,  it  does  not  go  round  to  the  south." 

"  Bugler,  sound  companies  one,  two,  and  three  to 
breakfast." 

The  order  interrupted  the  conversation,  and  for 
the  next  hour  the  boys  had  little  time  for  talk. 
Half  the  regiment  was  on  board  the  Nancy,  and 
after  breakfast  the  men  were  divided  into  three, 
watches,  of  which  one  was  always  to  be  on  deck, 
for  the  ship  was  very  crowded,  and  there  was 
scarcely  room  for  all  the  men  to  be  below  together. 
The  boys  were  in  the  same  watch,  for  the  day  pre- 
vious to  starting  Tom  had  been  appointed  bugler  to 
the  second  company,  Peter  to  the  third.  The  first 
company,  or  Grenadiers,  were  in  the  watch  with 
the  band,  the  second  and  third  companies  were 
together,  and  the  fourth  and  fifth. 

Tom  was  very  ill  for  the  first  two  days  of  the 
voyage,  while  Peter  did  not  feel  the  slightest  effects 
from  the  motion.  Upon  the  third  day  the  wind 
dropped  suddenly,  and  the  vessels  rolled  heavily  in 
the  swell,  with  their  sails  flapping  against  the 
masts.  Tom  came  up  that  morning  upon  deck  feel- 
ing quite  well  again,  and  the  boys  were  immensely 
amused  at  seeing  the  attempts  of  the  soldiers  to 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  93 

move  about,  the  sudden  rushes,  and  the  heavy  falls. 
A  parade  had  been  ordered  to  take  place ;  but  as 
no  one  could  have  stood  steady  without  holding  on, 
it  was  abandoned  as  impossible.  The  men  sat  about 
under  the  bulwarks,  and  a  few  amused  themselves 
and  the  rest  by  trying  to  play  various  games,  such 
as  laying  a  penny  on  the  deck,  and  seeing  which 
would  pitch  another  to  lay  nearest  to  it,  from  a  dis- 
tance of  five  yards.  The  difficulty  of  balancing 
oneself  in  a  heavily  rolling  vessel,  and  of  pitching  a 
penny  with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  is  great,  and 
the  manner  in  which  the  coins,  instead  of  coming 
down  flat  and  remaining  there,  rolled  away  into 
the  scuppers,  the  throwers  not  infrequently  follow- 
ing them,  produced  fits  of  laughter. 

Tom  was  still  feeling  weak  from  his  two  days' 
illness,  and  was  not  disposed  actively  to  enter  into 
the  fun ;  but  Peter  enjoyed  the  heavy  rolling,  and 
was  all  over  the  ship.  Presently  he  saw  Sam,  the 
black  drummer,  sitting  in  a  dark  corner  below 
quietly  asleep ;  his  cap  was  beside  him,  and  the  idea 
at  once  occurred  to  Peter  that  here  was  a  great 
opportunity  for  a  joke.  He  made  his  way  to  the 
caboose,  and  begged  the  cook  to  give  him  a  handful 
of  flour.  The  cook  at  first  refused,  but  was  pres- 
ently coaxed  into  doing  so,  and  Peter  stole  to  where 
Sam  was  asleep  and  put  the  flour  into  his  cap,  rely- 
ing that,  in  the  darkness,  Sam  would  put  it  on  with- 
out noticing  it.  Then,  going  up  to  the  deck  above, 
Peter  put  his  head  down  the  hatchway,  and  shouted 
loudly,  "Sam!" 


94  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

The  negro  woke  at  the  sound  of  his  name.  "  What 
is  it  ?"  he  asked.  Receiving  no  reply,  he  got  on  to 
his  feet,  muttering,."  Some  one  call  Sam,  that  for 
certain,  can't  do  without  Sam,  always  want  here, 
want  there.  I  go  up  and  see." 

So  saying,  he  put  on  his  cap  and  'made  his  way 
up  to  the  upper  deck.  As  he  stood  at  the  hatch- 
way and  looked  round,  there  was  first  a  titter,  and 
then  a  roar  of  laughter  from  the  men  sitting  or 
standing  along  by  the  bulwarks.  In  putting  on  his 
cap  some  of  the  flour  had  fallen  out,  and  had 
streaked  his  face  with  white.  Sam  was  utterly  un- 
conscious that  he  was  the  object  of  the  laughter, 
and  said  to  one  of  the  men  nearest  to  him,  "  Who 
call  Sam?" 

The  man  could  not  reply ;  but  Tom,  who  was  sit- 
ting close  by,  said,  "  It  was  no  one  here,  Sam,  it 
must  have  been  the  bandmaster ;  there  he  is,  close 
to  the  quarter-deck." 

Sam  made  his  way  along  toward  the  point  indi- 
cated, and  as  he  did  so  some  of  the  officers  upon  the 
quarter-deck  caught  sight  of  him.  "  Just  look  at 
Sambo,"  Carruthers  exclaimed,  "  somebody  has  been 
larking  with  him  again.  Look  how  all  the  men  are 
laughing,  and  he  evidently  has  no  suspicion  of  the 
figure  he  is." 

The  sergeant,  who,  the  bandmaster  having  re- 
mained at  the  depot,  was  now  acting  as  chief  of  the 
band,  did  not  see  Sam  until  the  latter  was  close  to 
him.  "  You  want  me,  sergeant  ?" 

Sergeant  Wilson  looked  np  and  was  astonished. 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  95 

"  What  on  earth  have  you  been  doing  to  yourself, 
Sam  ?"  he  asked. 

"  Me  been  having  little  nap  down  below,"  Sam 
said. 

"  Yes  ;  but  your  face,  man.  What  have  you  been 
doing  to  your  face  ?" 

Sam  in  his  turn  looked  astonished.  "  Nothing 
whatsomeber,  sargeant." 

"  Take  off  your  cap,  man,  and  look  inside  it." 
Sam  did  as  ordered ;  and  as  he  removed  the  cap, 
and  the  powder  fell  from  it  all  over  his  face  and 
shoulders,  there  was  a  perfect  shout  of  laughter 
from  the  soldiers  and  crew,  who  had  been  looking 
on,  and  the  officers,  looking  down  from  the  rail  of 
the  quarter-deck,  retired  to  laugh  unnoticed. 

The  astonishment  and  rage  of  Sam  were  un- 
bounded, and  he  gave  a  perfect  yell  of  surprise  and 
fury.  He  stamped  wildly  for  a  minute  or  two,  and 
then  with  a  sudden  movement  rushed  up  on  to  the 
quarter-deck  with  his  cap  in  his  hand.  The  colonel, 
who  was  holding  on  by  the  shrouds,  and  talking 
with  the  major,  in  ignorance  of  what  was  going  on, 
was  perfectly  astounded  at  this  sudden  vision  of  the 
irate  negro,  and  neither  he  nor  the  major  could 
restrain  their  laughter. 

"  Souse  me,  colonel,  sah,  for  de  liberty,"  Sam 
burst  out ;  "  but  look  at  me,  sah ;  is  dis  right,  sah, 
is  it  right  to  make  joke  like  dis  on  de  man  dat  play 
de  big  drum  of  de  regiment  ?" 

*  No,  no,  Sam ;  not  at  all  right,"  the  colonel 
said,  with  difficulty.  "If  you  report  who  hag 


96  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

played  the  trick  upon  you,  I  shall  speak  to  him  very 
seriously;  but,  Sam,  I  should  have  thought  that 
you  were  quite  big  enough  to  take  the  matter  in 
your  own  hands." 

"  Me  big  enough,  Massa  Colonel,  me  plenty  big ; 
but  me  not  able  to  find  him." 

"  "Well,  Sam,  it  is  carrying  a  joke  too  far ;  still  it 
is  only  a  trick  off  duty,  and  I  am  afraid  that  it  is 
beyond  my  power  to  interfere." 

Sam  thought  for  a  moment,  and,  having  by  this 
time  cooled  down  from  his  first  paroxysm  of  rage, 
he  said,  "  Beg  pardon,  massa,  you  quite  right,  no 
business  of  any  one  but  Sam ;  but  Sam  too  angry 
to  'top  to  think.  Scuse  liberty,  colonel,"  and  Sam 
retired  from  the  quarter-deck,  and  made  a  bolt  be- 
low down  the  nearest  hatchway,  when  he  plunged 
his  head  into  a  bucket  ot  water,  and  soon  restored 
it  to  its  usual  ebony  hue. 

Then  he  went  to  the  cook  and  tried  to  find  out 
to  whom  he  had  given  flour,  but  the  cook  replied  at 
once,  "  Lor,  I've  given  flour  to  the  men  of  each 
mess  to  make  puddings  of,  about  thirty  of  them," 
and  Sam  felt  as  far  off  as  ever. 

Presently,  however,  a  big  sailor  began  to  make 
fun  of  him,  and  Sam  retorted  by  knocking  him 
down,  after  which  there  was  a  regular  fight,  which 
was  carried  on  under  the  greatest  difficulty,  owing 
to  the  rolling  of  the  ship.  At  last  Sambo  got  the 
best  of  it,  and  this  restored  him  so  thoroughly  to  a 
good  temper  that  he  was  able  to  join  in  the  laugh 
at  himself,  reserving,  however,  his  right  to  "  knock 
de  rascal  who  did  it  into  a  squash." 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  97 

The  following  clay  the  weather  changed,  a  wind 
sprang  up  nearly  from  the  north,  which  increased 
rapidly,  until  toward  afternoon  it  was  blowing  half 
a  gale,  before  which  the  whole  fleet,  with  their 
main  and  topsails  set,  ran  southward  at  great  speed. 
A  heavy  cross  sea  was  running,  the  waves  raised 
by  the  gale  clashing  with  the  heavy  swell  previously 
rolling  in  from  the  westward,  and  so  violent  and 
sudden  were  the  lurches  and  rolls  of  the  Nancy 
that  the  master  feared  that  her  masts  would  go. 

"How  tremendously  she  rolls,  Tom  !" 

"  Tremendously  ;  the  deck  seems  almost  upright, 
and  the  water  right  under  our  feet  each  time  she 
goes  over.  She  feels  as  if  she  were  going  to  turn 
topsy-turvy  each  roll.  It's  bad  enough  on  deck : 
but  it  will  be  worse  down  below." 

"  A  great  deal  worse,  Peter,  it's  nearly  dark 
already  ;  it  will  strike  eight  bells  in  a  minute  or 
two,  and  then  we  shall  have  to  go  down.  There's 
no  danger,  of  course,  of  the  ship  turning  over,  but 
it  won't  be  pleasant  down  below.  Look  out, 
Peter !" 

The  exclamation  was  caused  by  an  awful  crash. 
The  ship  had  given  a  tremendous  lurch,  when  the 
longboat,  which  was  stowed  amidships,  suddenly  tore 
away  from  its  fastenings  and  came  crashing  down. 
It  passed  within  three  feet  of  where  the  boys  were 
sitting,  and  completely  tore  away  the  bulwark, 
leaving  a  great  gap  in  the  side,  where  it  had  passed 
through.  "  Look  Tom,  Sam's  overboard !"  Peter 
exclaimed. 


98  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Sam  had  been  sitting  on  the  bulwark  a  few  feet 
from  them,  holding  on  by  a  shroud,  when  the  boat 
came  down  upon  him  ;  with  a  cry  he  had  let  go  of 
the  shroud  and  started  back,  falling  into  the  water 
just  as  the  boat  struck  the  bulwark.  "  There  he  is, 
Tom,"  Peter  said,  as  he  saw  the  black  only  a  few 
yards  from  the  side.  "  He  is  hurt,  come  on  ;"  catch- 
ing up  the  end  of  a  long  rope  coiled  up  on  the  deck 
close  to  their  feet,  the  boys  jumped  overboard 
together.  A  dozen  strokes  took  them  up  to  Sam  ; 
but  the  black  hull  of  the  ship  had  already  glanced 
past  them.  They  could  hear  loud  shouts,  but  could 
not  distinguish  a  word. 

"  Quick,  round  him,  Peter !"  and  in  a  moment 
the  boys  twisted  the  rope  round  the  body  of  the 
black,  and  knotted  it  just  as  the  drag  of  the  ship 
tightened  it.  Thus  Sam's  safety  was  secured,  but 
the  strain  was  so  tremendous  as  they  tore  through 
the  water  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  boys  to 
hold  on,  and  in  a  moment  they  were  torn  from 
their  hold. 

"  All  right,  Peter,"  Tom  said  cheerily,  as  they 
dashed  the  water  from  their  eyes,  "there  is  the 
boat." 

The  remains  of  the  boat  were  not  ten  yards  dis- 
tant, and  in  a  few  strokes  they  had  gained  it.  It 
was  stove  in  and  broken,  but  still  held  together, 
floating  on  a  level  with  the  water's  edge.  With 
some  trouble  the  boys  got  inside  her,  and  sat  down 
in  the  bottom,  so  that  their  heads  were  just  out  of 
water. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  99 

Then  they  had  time  to  look  round.  The  ship 
was  already  disappearing  in  the  gathering  dark- 
ness. 

"  This  boat  will  soon  go  to  pieces,  Tom,"  was 
Peter's  first  remark. 

"  I  expect  it  will,  Peter  ;  but  we  must  stick  to  its 
pieces.  We  had  better  get  off  our  boots.  The 
water  is  pretty  warm,  that's  one  comfort." 

"  Do  you  think  the  ship  will  come  back  for  us, 
Tom?" 

"  I  don't  think  she  can,  Peter ;  at  any  rate,  it  is 
certain  she  can't  find  us ;  it  would  take  a  long  time 
to  bring  her  round,  and  then,  you  see,  she  could  not 
sail  straight  back  here  against  the  wind." 

"  Look  here,  Tom,  I  remember  when  I  climbed 
up  to  look  into  the  boats  yesterday  that  there  were 
some  little  casks  lashed  under  the  seats,  and  a  sailor 
told  me  they  were  al ways  kept  full  of  water  incase 
the  boats  were  wanted  suddenly.  If  they  are  still 
there  we  might  empty  them  out,  and  they  could 
keep  us  afloat  any  time." 

"  Hurrah  !  Peter,  capital,  let's  see." 

To  their  great  delight  the  boys  found  four  small 
water-kegs  fastened  under  the  seats.  Three  of  these 
they  emptied,  and  fastened  one  of  them  to  that 
which  they  had  left  full,  and  then  each  taking  hold 
of  one  of  the  slings  which  were  fastened  to  the  kegs 
for  convenience  of  carriage,  they  waited  quietly. 
In  less  than  ten  minutes  from  the  time  when  they 
first  gained  their  frail  refuge,  a  great  wave  broke 
just  upon  them,  and  completely  smashed  up  the 


100  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

remains  of  the  boat.  They  had  cut  off  some  rope 
from  the  mast,  which  they  found  with  its  sail  furled 
ready  for  use  in  the  boat,  and  now  roughly  lashed 
themselves  together,  face  to  face,  so  that  they  had  a 
keg  on  each  side.  They  had  also  fastened  a  long 
piece  of  rope  to  the  other  kegs,  so  that  they  would 
float  near  them. 

It  was  a  long  and  terrible  night  for  them  ;  gener- 
ally their  heads  and  chests  were  well  above  the 
water,  but  at  times  a  wave  would  break  with  its 
white  crest,  and  for  a  time  the  foam  would  be  over 
their  heads.  Fortunately  the  water  was  warm,  and 
the  wind  fell  a  good  deal.  The  boys  talked  occa- 
sionally to  each  other,  and  kept  up  each  other's 
courage.  Once  or  twice,  in  spite  of  the  heavy  sea, 
they  were  so  much  overcome  with  exhaustion  that 
they  dozed  uneasily  for  awhile,  with  their  heads 
upon  each  other's  shoulders,  and  great  was  their 
feeling  of  relief  and  pleasure  when  morning  began 
to  break. 

"  It  is  going  to  be  a  splendid  day,  Peter,  and  the 
wind  is  dropping  fast." 

"  Look,  Tom,"  Peter  said,  "  there  are  some  of  the 
planks  of  the  boat  jammed  in  with  the  kegs." 

It  was  as  Peter  said ;  the  two  kegs,  one  empty 
and  the  other  full,  were  floating  about  ten  yards  off, 
at  the  length  of  the  rope  by  which  they  were 
attached  to  the  boys,  while  with  them  was  a  con- 
fused mass  of  wreckage  of  the  boat.  "That  is 
capital,  Peter,  we  will  see  if  we  can't  make  a  raft 
presently." 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  101 

As  the  sun  rose  and  warmed  the  air,  the  boys' 
strength  and  spirits  revived,  and  in  a  few  hours 
they  were  so  refreshed  that  they  determined  to  set 
about  their  raft.  The  wind  had  now  entirely  drop- 
ped, the  waves  were  still  very  high,  but  they  came 
in  long,  smooth,  regular  swells,  over  which  they  rose 
and  fell  almost  imperceptibly. 

"  They  must  be  rolling  a  good  deal  more  in  the 
Nancy  than  we  are  here,  Peter.  Now,  the  first 
thing  is  to  have  a  drink.  What  a  blessing  it  is  we 
have  water."  With  their  knives, they  soon  got  the 
bung  out  .of  the  water-keg,  and  each  took  a  long 
drink,  and  then  carefully  closed  it  up  again. 

"  There,  Peter,  we  have  drunk  as  much  as  we 
wanted  this  time ;  but  we  must  be  careful,  there  is 
no  saying  how  long  we  may  be  before  we  are  picked 
up.  Hurrah,  Peter,  here  are  the  mast  and  sails,  so 
we  shall  have  plenty  of  cord." 

It  took  the  boys  nearly  three  hours  to  complete 
their  task  to  their  satisfaction.  When  it  was  con- 
cluded they  had  the  three  empty  kegs  lashed  in  a 
triangle  about  five  feet  apart,  while  two  planks 
crossing  the  triangle  assisted  to  keep  all  firm  and 
tight ;  floating  in  the  center  of  the  triangle  was  the 
keg  of  water.  "  There,  I  don't  think  we  can  im- 
prove that,  Peter,"  Tom  said  at  last,  "now,  let  us  get 
on  and  try  it."  They  did  so,  and  to  their  great 
delight  found  that  it  floated  a  few  inches  above 
water.  "  We  may  as  well  get  the  masts  on  board, 
Peter,  and  let  the  sails  tow  alongside.  They  may 
come  in  useful ;  and  now  the  first  thing  is  to  dry 
ourselves  and  our  clothes." 


102  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

The  clothes  were  soon  spread  out  to  dry,  and  the 
boys  luxuriated  in  the  warmth  of  the  sun. 

"What  great,  smooth  waves  these  are,  Tom! 
Sometimes  we  are  down  in  a  valley  which  runs 
miles  long,  and  then  we  are  up  on  a  hill." 

"  Here  we  lay,  all  the  day,  in  the  bay  of  Biscay, 
oh  !"  Tom  laughed.  "  I  only  hope  that  the  wished- 
for  morrow  may  bring  the  sail  in  sight,  Peter. 
However,  we  can  hold  on  for  a  few  days,  I  suppose. 
That  is  a  four-gallon  keg,  so  that  we  have  got  a 
quart  of  water  each  for  eight  days,  and  hunger 
isn't  so  bad  to  bear  as  thirst.  We  have  pretty  well 
done  for  our  uniforms;  our  bugles  are  the  only 
things  that  have  not  suffered." 

For,  the  boys'  companies  being  on  deck  at  the 
time  of  the  accident,  they  both  had  their  bugles  on 
when  they  jumped  over  board. 

"  Our  last  upset  was  when  that  bargee  canted  us 
over  at  Eton;  rather  a  different  business,  that, 
Peter." 

"  My  shirt  is  not  dry  yet,  Tom ;  but  I  shall  put  it 
on  again,  for  the  sun  is  too  hot  to  be  pleasant." 

Tom  followed  Peter's  example. 

"  Do  you  think,  Tom,  that  we  had  better  try  to 
get  up  a  sort  of  sail  and  make  for  land,  or  remain 
where  we  are  ?" 

"  Remain  where  we  are,  Peter,  I  should  say.  I 
suppose  we  must  be  a  hundred  miles  from  the 
French  coast,  and  even  if  the  wind  blew  fair  we 
should  be  a  long  time  getting  there,  and  with  the 
certainty  of  a  prison  when  we  arrived.  Still,  if 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  103 

there  were  a  strong  west  wind  I  suppose  it  would 
be  our  best  way ;  as  it  is  we  have  nothing  to  do 
but  to  wait  quietly,  and  hope  for  a  ship.  We  are 
in  the  right  line,  and  there  must  be  lots  of  vessels 
on  their  way,  besides  those  which  sailed  with  us, 
from  Portsmouth.  So  we  must  keep  watch  and 
watch.  Now,  Peter,  you  lie  down  on  that  plank ;  it 
is  just  about  long  enough.  You  shall  have  two  hours' 
sleep,  and  then  I'll  have  two;  after  that  we  will 
have  four  hours  each." 

"  How  are  we  to  count  time  ?"  Peter  said,  laughing. 

"  I  never  thought  of  that,"  Tom  said,  looking  at 
his  watch.  "  Of  course,  it  has  stopped.  We  must 
guess  as  near  as  we  can ;  at  any  rate,  you  go  to 
sleep  first,  and  when  I  am  too  sleepy  to  keep  watch 
any  longer  I  will  wake  you  up." 

So  passed  that  day  and  the  next  night.  A  light 
breeze  sprang  up  from  the  southwest,  and  the  sun 
again  shone  out  brightly. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  wanted  breakfast  horribly,"  Peter 
said,  with  an  attempt  at  a  smile.  "  Do  you  think 
that  there  is  any  possibility  of  catching  any  thing?" 

"  We  have  nothing  to  make  hooks  with,  Peter, 
and  nothing  to  bait  them  with  if  we  had." 

"  There  are  lots  of  tiny  fish  swimming  all  about, 
Tom,  if  we  could  but  catch  them." 

Tom  was  silent  for  awhile ;  then  he  said,  "  Look 
here,  Peter.  Let  us  cut  a  piece  off  the  sail,  about 
five  feet  long  and  say  three  feet  wide,  double  it 
longways,  and  sew  up  the  ends  so  as  to  make  a  bag; 
we  can  unravel  some  string,  and  make  holes  with 


104  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

our  knives.  Then  we  can  sink  it  down  two  or  three 
feet,  and  watch  it ;  and  when  we  see  that  some  little 
fish  have  got  in  it  we  can  draw  it  up  very  gently, 
and,  by  raising  it  gradually  from  the  sea,  the  water 
will  run  out,  and  we  shall  catch  the  fish." 

Peter  agreed  that  at  any  rate  it  was  worth  trying ; 
for,  even  if  it  did  not  succeed,  it  was  better  for  them 
to  be  doing  something  than  sitting  idle.  The  sail 
and  the  floating  wreckage  were  pulled  alongside 
and  the  boys  set  to  work.  In  three  hours  a  large 
and  shallow  bag  was  made,  with  some  improvements 
upon  Tom's  original  plan.  The  mouth  was  kept 
open  by  two  crossed  pieces  of  wood,  and  four  cords 
from  the  corners  were  attached  to  the  end  of  the 
oar  which  formed  their  fishing-rod.  At  last  it  was 
finished  and  the  bag  lowered. 

To  the  horror  of  the  boys  it  was  discovered  that 
it  would  not  sink.  They  were  ready  to  cry  with 
vexation,  for  the  want  of  food  had  made  them  feel 
faint  and  weak. 

"  What  have  we  got  that  is  heavy  ?"  Tom  asked 
in  despair. 

"I  have  got  fourpence  in  halfpence,  Tom,  and 
there  are  our  knives  and  watches." 

Their  pockets  were  ransacked,  and  the  halfpence, 
knives,  and  watches  were  placed  in  the  bottom  of 
the  bag  and  lowered.  Still  the  woodwork  kept 
afloat. 

"  There  are  the  bugles,  Tom,"  Peter  cried  in  de- 
light. These  had  been  fastened  to  the  raft,  and 
were  now  hastily  untied  and  placed  in  the  canvas 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  105 

It  sank  now,  and  the  boys  lowered  it  five  or  six 
feet,  so  that  they  could  partly  see  into  it.  "  There 
are  lots  of  little  fish  swimming  about,  Tom,"  Peter 
said  in  a  whisper.  "  Some  are  almost  as  long  as 
one's  hand.  Do  you  think  that  they  will  go  in, 
Tom?" 

"  I  hope  the  glitter  of  the  bugles  and  watches  will 
attract  them,  Peter." 

"There,  Tom,  there — I  saw  a  whole  swarm  of 
little  ones  go  in." 

"  Wait  a  minute  or  two,  Peter,  to  let  them  get 
well  down,  and  then  draw  up  as  quietly  as  possible." 

Yery  cautiously  the  boys  raised  the  point  of  their 
rod  until  the  top  of  the  square-mouthed  bag  was 
level  with  the  surface ;  then  they  brought  it  close 
to  them  and  looked  in,  and  as  they  did  so  gave  a 
simultaneous  cheer.  There,  in  the  bottom  of  the 
canvas,  two  feet  below  them,  were  a  number  of 
little  fish  moving  about.  Raising  the  rod  still 
higher,  they  gradually  lifted  the  net  out  of  the  sea, 
the  water  running  quickly  off  as  they  did  so,  and 
then  they  proceeded  to  examine  their  prize. 

"  We  will  take  out  one  and  one,  Peter ;  give  them 
a  nip  as  you  take  them  up,  that  will  kill  them." 
There  were  two  fish  of  about  three  inches  long, 
another  three  or  four  of  two  inches,  and  some  thirty 
or  forty  the  size  of  minnows.  It  was  scarcely  more 
than  a  mouthful  each,  but  it  was  a  stay  for  a  moment 
to  their  stomachs,  and  no  one  ever  said  a  thanks- 
giving with  deeper  feeling  and  heartiness  than  did 
the  boys  when  they  had  emptied  their  canvas  net. 


106  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  We  need  not  be  anxious  about  food  now,  Peter  ; 
if  we  can  catch  these  in  five  minutes  we  can  get 
enough  each  day  to  satisfy  us.  They  quench  the 
thirst  too.  We  must  limit  ourselves  to  half  a  pint 
of  water  a  day,  and  we  can  hold  on  for  a  fortnight. 
We  are  safe  to  be  picked  up  before  that." 

All  the  afternoon  and  evening  the  boys  contin- 
ued to  let  down  and  draw  up  their  net,  sometimes 
bringing  in  only  a  few  tiny  fish,  sometimes  get- 
ting half  a  dozen  of  the  larger  kind.  By  night- 
fall they  had  satisfied  the  cravings  of  hunger, 
and  felt  stronger  and  better.  One  or  two  sail 
had  been  seen  during  the  day,  but  always  at 
such  distances  that  it  was  evident  at  once  that 
they  could  not  pass  within  hail.  That  night,  fa- 
tigued with  their  exertions,  both  lay  down  and 
went  to  sleep  until  morning,  and  slept  more  com- 
fortably than  before;  for  they  had  fastened  a 
piece  of  the  sail  tightly  on  the  top  of  the  raft, 
and  lay  softly  suspended  in  that,  instead  of  being 
balanced  upon  a  narrow  and  uncomfortable  plank. 
They  felt  new  creatures  when  they  woke,  pulled  up 
their  net,  had  a  mouthful  of  raw  fish,  took  off  their 
clothes,  and  had  a  swim,  and  then  set  to  earnestly 
to  fish.  The  sun  was  brighter,  and  the  fish  in  con- 
sequence kept  deeper  than  upon  the  preceding  day  ; 
still  by  evening  they  had  caught  enough  to  take  the 
edge  off,  if  not  to  satisfy,  their  hunger.  .The  fish- 
ing, however,  during  the  last  hours  of  daylight  was 
altogether  neglected,  for  behind  them  they  could  see 
9  sail,  which  appeared  as  if  it  might  possibly  come 


THE  BOYS  ANXIOUSLY  WATCHED  THE  COUKSE  OF  THE  VESSEL. 

Page  107. 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  107 

close  enough  to  observe  them.  There  was  still  the 
long,  steady  swell  coming  in  from  the  Atlantic,  and 
a  light  breeze  was  blowing  from  the  north.  The 
boys  had  been  so  intent  upon  their  fishing  that  they 
had  not  noticed  her  until  she  was  within  nine  or  ten 
miles  of  them.  "  She  will  not  be  up  for  an  hour 
and  a  half,  Peter,"  Tom  said,  "  and  the  sun  will  be 
down  long  before  that.  I  fear  that  the  chance  of 
their  seeing  us  is  very  small  indeed.  However,  we 
will  try.  Let  us  get  the  net  out  of  the  water,  and 
hold  it  and  the  oar  up.  It  is  possible  that  some  one 
may  see  the  canvas  with  a  telescope  before  the  sun 
goes  down.  Take  the  things  out  of  the  net." 

The  oar  with  the  canvas  bag  was  elevated,  and 
the  boys  anxiously  watched  the  course  of  the  vessel. 
She  was  a  large  ship,  but  they  could  only  see  her 
when  they  rose  upon  the  top  of  the  long  smooth 
waves.  "  I  should  think  that  she  will  pass  within 
a  mile  of  us,  Peter,"  Tom  said,  after  half  an  hour's 
watching ;  "  but  I  fear  that  she  will  not  be  much 
closer.  How  unfortunate  she  had  not  come  along  an 
hour  earlier!  She  would  have  been  sure  to  see  us  if 
it  had  been  daylight.  I  don't  think  that  there  is 
much  chance  now,  for  there  is  no  moon.  However, 
thank  God,  we  can  hold  on  very  well  now,  and  next 
time  we  may  have  better  luck." 

The  sun  had  set  more  than  half  an  hour  before 
the  ship  came  abreast  of  them.  They  had  evidently 
not  been  seen. 

"Now,  Peter,"  Tom  said,  "let  us  both  halloo 
together;  the  wind  is  very  light,  and  it  is  just  pos- 
sible they  may  hear  us." 


108  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Again  and  again  the  boys  shouted,  but  the  ship 
sailed  steadily  on.  Peter  dashed  the  tears  aside, 
and  Tom  said,  with  a  quiver  in  his  voice,  "  Never 
mind,  Peter ;  better  luck  next  time,  old  boy.  God 
has  been  so  good  to  us  that  I  feel  quite  confident 
we  shall  be  saved." 

"  So  do  I,  Tom,"  Peter  said.  "  It  was  only  a  dis- 
appointment for  a  minute.  "We  may  as  well  put  the 
oar  down,  for  my  arm  and  back  ache  holding  it." 

"Mind  how  you  do  it,  Peter.  If  we  let  the  end 
go  through  the  canvas,  we  shall  lose  our  watches 
and  bugles,  and  then  we  shall  not  be  able  to  fish." 

"  Oh,  Tom,  the  bugles  !" 

"What,  Peter?"  Tom  said,  astonished. 

"  We  can  make  them  hear,  Tom,  don't  you  see  ?" 

"  Hurrah,  Peter !  so  we  can.  What  a  fool  I  was 
to  forget  it !" 

In  a  moment  the  bugles  rang  out  the  assembly 
across  the  water.  Again  and  again  the  sharp,  clear 
sound  rose  on  the  quiet  evening  air. 

"  Look,  Peter,  there  are  men  going  up  the  rigging 
to  look  round.  Sound  again !" 

Again  and  again  they  sounded  the  call,  and  then 
they  saw  the  ship's  head  come  round,  and  her  bow 
put  toward  them,  and  then  they  fell  on  their  knees 
and  thanked  God  that  they  were  saved. 

In  ten  minutes  the  ship  was  close  to  them,  thrown 
up  into  the  wind,  a  boat  was  lowered,  and  in  another 
minute  or  two  was  alongside. 

"  Halloo !"  the  officer  in  charge  exclaimed,  "  two 
boys,  all  alone.  Here,  help  them  in,  lads — that's  it ; 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  109 

now  pull  for  the  ship.  Here,  boys,  take  a  little 
brandy  from  this  flask.  How  long  have  you  been 
on  that  raft  ?" 

"  It  is  three  days  since  we  went  overboard,  sir ; 
but  we  were  in  the  water  for  about  eighteen  hours 
before  we  made  the  raft." 

Tom  and  Peter  drank  a  little  brandy,  and  felt 
better  for  it ;  but  they  were  weaker  than  they 
thought,  for  they  had  to  be  helped  up  the  side  of  the 
ship.  A  number  of  officers  were  grouped  round 
the  gangway,  and  the  boys  saw  that  they  were  on 
board  a  vessel  o  war. 

"  Only  these  boys  ?"  asked  the  captain  in  surprise 
of  the  officer  who  had  brought  them  on  board. 

"  That  is  all,  sir." 

"  Doctor,  you  had  better  see  to  them,"  the  captain 
said.  "If  they  are  strong  enough  to  talk,  after  they 
have  had  some  soup,  let  them  come  to  my  cabin  ; 
if  not,  let  them  turn  in  in  the  sick  bay,  and  I  will 
see  them  in  the  morning.  One  question  though, 
boys.  Are  there  any  others  about — any  one  for  me 
to  look  for  or  pick  up  ?" 

"  No  one  else,  sir,"  Tom  said,  and  then  followed 
the  doctor  aft.  A  basin  of  soup  and  a  glass  of 
sherry  did  wonders  for  the  boys,  and  in  an  hour 
they  proceeded  to  the  captain's  cabin,  dressed  in 
clothes  which  the  doctor  had  borrowed  from  two  of 
the  midshipmen  for  them,  for  their  own  could  never 
be  worn  again ;  indeed,  they  had  not  brought  their 
jackets  from  the  raft,  those  garments  having  shrunk 
so  from  the  water  that  the  boys  had  not  been  able 


110  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

to  put  them  on  again,  after  first  taking  them  off  to 
dry. 

The  doctor  accompanied  them,  and  in  the  cap- 
tain's cabin  they  found  the  first  lieutenant,  who  had 
been  in  charge  of  the  boat  which  picked  them  up. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  looking  so  much  better," 
the  captain  said  as  they  entered.  "  Sit  down.  Do 
you  know,"  he  went  on  with  a  smile,  "  I  do  not 
think  that  any  of  us  would  have  slept  had  you  not 
recovered  sufficiently  to  tell  your  story  to-night. 
We  have  been  puzzling  over  it  in  vain.  How  you 
two  boys  came  to  be  adrift  alone  on  a  raft,  made  up 
of  three  water-kegs,  as  Mr.  Armstrong  tells  me,  and 
how  you  came  to  have  two  bugles  with  you  on  the 
raft,  is  altogether  beyond  us." 

"  The  last  matter  is  easily  explained,  sir,"  Tom 
said.  "  My  brother  and  myself  are  buglers  in 
H.M.'s  Eegiment  of  Norfolk  Rangers,  and  as  we 
were  on  duty  when  we  went  overboard,  we  had  our 
bugles  slung  over  our  shoulders." 

"  Buglers  !"  the  captain  said  in  surprise.  "  "Why, 
from  your  appearance  and  mode  of  expressing  your- 
selves, I  take  you  to  be  gentlemen's  sons." 

"  So  we  are,  sir,"  Tom  said  quietly,  "  and  I  hope 
gentlemen — at  any  rate  we  have  been  Etonians. 
But  we  have  lost  our  father,  and  are  now  buglers  in 
the  Rangers." 

"  Well,  lads,"  the  captain  said  after  a  pause,  "and 
now  tell  us  how  you  came  upon  this  little  raft  ?" 

Tom  related  modestly  the  story  of  their  going 
overboard  from  the  Nancy,  of  the  formation  of 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  Ill 

the  raft,  and  of  their  after  proceedings.  Their 
hearers  were  greatly  astonished  at  the  story ;  and 
the  captain  said,  "  Young  gentlemen,  you  have  done 
a  very  gallant  action,  and  have  behaved  with  a 
coolness  and  bravery  which  would  have  done  credit 
to  old  sailors.  Had  your  father  been  alive  he  might 
have  been  proud  indeed  of  you.  I  should  be  proud 
had  3^ou  been  my  sons.  If  you  are  disposed  to 
change  services  I  will  write  directly  we  reach  the 
Tagus  to  obtain  your  discharge,  and  will  give  you 
midshipmen's  berths  on  board  this  ship.  Don't 
answer  now  ;  you  can  think  it  over  by  the  time  we 
reach  Portugal.  I  will  not  detain  you  now ;  a 
night's  rest  will  set  you  up.  Mr.  Armstrong  will 
introduce  you  to  the  midshipmen  to-morrow ;  you 
are  passengers  here  now,  and  will  mess  with  them. 
Good-night." 

It  was  not  many  minutes  before  the  boys  were 
asleep  in  their  hammocks.  If  people's  ears  really 
tingle  when  they  are  being  spoken  about,  Tom  and 
Peter  would  have  had  but  little  sleep  that  night. 
The  first  lieutenant  related  the  circumstances  to  the 
other  lieutenants ;  the  second  lieutenant,  whose 
watch  it  was,  told  the  gunner,  who  related  it  to  the 
petty  officers;  the  doctor  told  his  mates,  who  re- 
tailed the  story  to  the  midshipmen ;  and  so  gradu- 
ally it  went  over  the  whole  ship,  and  officers  and 
men  agreed  that  it  was  one  of  the  pluckiest  and 
coolest  things  ever  done. 

The  boys  slept  until  nearly  breakfast  time,  and 
were  just  dressed  when  Mr.  Armstrong  came  for 


112  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

them  and  took  them  to  the  midshipmen's  berth, 
where  they  were  received  with  a  warmth  and 
heartiness  which  quite  surprised  them.  The  mid- 
shipmen and  mates  pressed  forward  to  shake  hands 
with  them,  and  the  stiflingly  close  little  cockpit 
was  the  scene  of  an  ovation.  The  boys  were  quite 
glad  when  the  handshaking  was  over,  and  they  sat 
down  to  the  rough  meal  which  was  then  usual 
among  midshipmen.  As  the  vessel  had  only  left 
England  four  days  before,  the  fare  was  better  than 
it  would  have  been  a  week  later,  for  there  was  but- 
ter, cold  ham  and  tongue  upon  the  table.  After 
breakfast  they  were  asked  to  tell  the  story  over 
again,  and  this  they  did  with  great  modesty.  Many 
questions  wrere  asked,  and  it  was  generally  regretted 
that  they  were  not  sailors.  Upon  going  up  on  deck 
there  was  quite  an  excitement  among  the  sailors  to 
get  a  look  at  them,  and  the  gunner  and  other  petty 
officers  came  up  and  shook  hands  with  them  heartily, 
and  the  boys  wished  from  the  depths  of  their  hearts 
that  people  would  not  make  such  a  fuss  about  noth- 
ing ;  for,  as  Tom  said  to  Peter,  "  Of  course  we  should 
not  have  jumped  overboard  if  we  had  thought  that 
we  could  not  have  kept  hold  of  the  rope." 

That  day  they  dined  in  the  cabin  with  the  cap- 
tain, who,  after  the  officers  present  had  withdrawn, 
asked  them  if  they  would  tell  him  about  their  past 
lives.  This  the  boys  did  frankly,  and  took  the  op- 
portunity of  explaining  that  they  had  chosen  the 
army,  because,  the  enemies'  fleet  having  been  de- 
stroyed, there  was  less  chance  of  active  service  in 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  113 

the  navy  than  with  the  army  just  starting  for  Lis- 
bon, and  that  their  uncle  having  commanded  the 
regiment  that  they  were  in,  they  had  entered  it, 
and  had  received  so  much  kindness  that  they  had 
fair  reason  to  hope  that  they  would  eventually 
obtain  commissions.  Hence,  while  thanking  him 
most  warmly  for  his  offer,  they  had  decided  to  go 
on  in  the  path  that  they  had  chosen. 

The  captain  remarked  that,  after  what  they  had 
said,  although  he  should  have  been  glad  to  have 
them  with  him,  he  thought  that  they  had  decided 
rightly. 

The  next  morning,  when  the  boys  woke,  they 
were  surprised  at  the  absence  of  any  motion  of  the 
vessel,  and  upon  going  on  deck  they  found  that 
/•;hey  were  running  up  the  Tagus,  and  that  Lisbon 
was  in  sight. 


114  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

PORTUGAL. 

THE  boys  were  delighted  with  the  appearance  of 
the  Tagus,  covered  as  it  now  was  with  a  fleet  of 
transports  and  merchantmen.  As  they  were  look- 
ing at  it,  the  officer  commanding  the  marines  on 
board,  who  had  talked  a  good  deal  to  them  upon 
the  preceding  day,  came  up  to  them.  "  I  thought 
that  you  would  be  in  a  fix  about  clothes,  my  lads,' 
he  said.  "  You  could  not  very  well  join  in  these 
midshipman's  uniforms,  so  I  set  the  tailor  yesterday 
to  cut  down  a  couple  of  spare  suits  of  my  corps. 
The  buttons  will  not  be  right,  but  you  can  easily 
alter  that  when  you  join.  You  had  better  go  below 
at  once  and  see  if  the  things  fit  pretty  well.  I  have 
told  the  tailor  to  take  them  to  the  cockpit,  and  if 
they  do  not  fit  they  can  alter  them  at  once." 

Thanking  the  officer  very  much  for  his  thought- 
ful kindness,  and  much  relieved  in  mind — for  they 
had  already  been  wondering  what  they  should  do — 
the  boys  ran  below,  and  found  that  the  tailor  had 
guessed  their  sizes  pretty  correctly,  aided  as  he  had 
been  by  the  trousers  they  had  worn  when  they 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  115 

• 

came  on  board.  A  few  alterations  were  necessary, 
and  these  he  promised  to  get  finished  in  a  couple  of 
hours.  They  had  scarcely  gone  on  deck  again  when 
the  anchor  was  let  fall,  and  a  boat  was  lowered,  in 
order  that  the  captain  might  proceed  to  shore  with 
the  dispatches  of  which  he  was  the  bearer. 

Just  as  he  was  upon  the  point  of  leaving  the 
deck  his  eye  fell  upon  the  boys.  "  I  shall  be  back 
again  in  an  hour  or  two,"  he  said ;  "  do  not  leave 
until  I  return.  I  will  find  out  where  your  regiment 
is,  and  if  it  has  marched  I  will  give  you  a  certificate 
of  how  I  picked  you  up,  otherwise  you  may  be 
stopped  on  the  way,  and  get  into  a  scrape  as  two 
boys  who  have  strayed  away  from  their  regiment." 

So  saying,  the  captain  got  into  his  boat  and  rowed 
to  shore.  It  was  one  o'clock  before  he  returned. 
The  boys  had  dinner  with  the  gunroom  officers, 
then  changed  their  dress,  and  had  now  the  appear- 
ance of  buglers  in  the  marines. 

The  captain  at  once  sent  for  them.  "  Your  regi- 
ment went  on  yesterday  with  the  rest  of  the  divi- 
sion. It  halts  to-day  ten  miles  out  of  the  town. 
There  is  the  certificate  I  spoke  of.  Mr.  Armstrong 
is  just  going  off  with  two  boats'  crews  to  assist  in 
unloading  stores;  I  have  asked  him  to  hand  you 
over  to  the  charge  of  some  officer  going  up  with  a 
convoy.  And  now  good-by,  lads.  I  wish  you  every 
luck,  and  hope  that  some  day  or  other  you  may  win 
your  epaulets." 

"With  renewed  thanks  for  his  kindness,  the  boys 
went  up  on  deck.  There  they  shook  hands  and 


116  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

said  good-by  to  all  the  officers  and  midshipmen.  As 
they  were  waiting  while  the  boats  were  being  low- 
ered, two  of  the  sailors  went  aft  to  the  captain,  who 
had  come  up  from  below  and  was  walking  alone  on 
the  quarter-deck,  and,  with  a  touch  of  the  hat,  the 
spokesman  said,  "  Your  honor,  we're  come  to  ax  as 
how,  if  your  honor  has  no  objection,  we  might  just 
give  a  parting  cheer  to  those  'ere  youngsters." 

"  Well,  Jones,"  the  captain  said,  smiling,  "  it's 
rather  an  unusual  thing  for  the  crew  of  one  of  his 
majesty's  ships  to  cheer  two  young  soldiers." 

"  It  is  unusual,  your  honor,  mighty  unusual,  be- 
cause soldiers  ain't  in  general  of  much  account  at 
sea;  but  you  see,  your  honor,  this  ain't  a  usual 
circumstance,  nohow.  These  here  boys,  which  ain't 
much  more  than  babbies,  have  done  what  there 
ain't  many  men,  not  even  of  those  who  are  born 
and  bred  to  the  sea,  would  have  done ;  and  we 
should  just  like  to  give  them  a  bit  of  a  cheer,  for 
good  luck." 

"  Very  well,  Jones,  tell  the  men  they  can  do  as 
they  like." 

Accordingly,  as  the  boys  took  their  seats  in  the 
boat  they  were  surprised  at  seeing  the  crew  cluster- 
ing to  the  side  of  the  ship,  while  some  of  the  men 
ran  up  the  rigging. 

"  "What  can  the  men  be  up  to  ?"  Tom  asked  Mr. 
Armstrong  in  surprise. 

The  lieutenant  smiled,  for  he  knew  what  was 
coming.  "  Sheer  off,  men,"  he  said,  and  as  he  did 
so  the  boatswain  of  the  ship  gave  the  word.  "  Now, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  117 

lads,  three  cheers  for  them  boys ;  may  they  have 
the  luck  they  deserve." 

Three  thundering  cheers  burst  from  the  whole 
crew,  the  men  in  the  boats  tossing  their  oars  in  the 
naval  fashion  of  acknowledgment  of  the  salute. 
Tom  and  Peter,  astonished  and  atfected,  stood  up, 
took  oif  their  caps,  and  waved  their  hands  in  thanks 
to  the  crowd  of  faces  looking  down  upon  then:-, 
and  then  sat  down  again  and  wiped  their  eyes. 

"  Row  on,7'  the  lieutenant  said,  and  the  oars  fell 
in  the  water  with  a  splash  ;  one  more  cheer  arose, 
and  then  the  boats  rowed  for  the  landing-place. 
The  boys  were  too  much  affected  to  look  up  or 
speak  until  they  reached  the  shore,  nor  did  they 
notice  a  boat  which  rowed  past  them  upon  its  way 
to  the  vessel  they  had  left,  just  after  they  had 
started.  It  contained  an  officer  in  a  general's 
uniform.  The  boat  steered  to  the  ship's  side,  and 
the  officer  ascended  the  ladder.  The  captain  was 
on  deck.  "  Ah,  Crauf  urd,"  he  said,  "  this  is  an 
unexpected  pleasure." 

"  I  have  just  come  back  from  my  division  for  a 
few  hours,  Merivale  ;  there  are  a  lot  of  stores  which 
are  essential,  and  some  of  my  artillery  is  not  landed, 
so  I  thought  I  could  hurry  things  up  a  bit.  My 
spare  charger,  and  most  of  the  chargers  of  my  staff, 
are  being  landed,  too ;  the  ship  they  came  in  was 
a  day  or  two  late ;  and  as  I  had  to  confer  with  the 
Portuguese  minister  of  war,  I  am  killing  a  good 
many  birds  with  one  stone.  I  heard  you  had  just 
come  in,  and  as  I  was  on  board  the  Clio  about 


118  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

my  charger,  I  thought  it  would  not  be  much  out 
of  my  way  to  run  round  and  shake  hands  with 
you." 

"I  am  very  glad  you  did.  Come  into  my  cabin  ; 
you  can  spare  time  to  take  some  lunch,  I  hope." 

While  they  were  at  lunch  General  Craufurd  re- 
marked, "So  you  have  just  lost  one  of  your  officers 
I  see ;  promoted  to  another  ship,  eh  ?" 

"Lost  an  officeH"  Captain  Merivale  said  in  sui 
prise.     "No,   not  that  I   have   heard  of.      Whav 
makes  you  think  so  ?" 

"  I  thought  so  by  the  cheering  the  ship's  crew 
gave  that  boat  that  left  the  ship  just  before  I  came 
up.  There  was  only  a  naval  lieutenant  in  her,  and 
I  supposed  that  he  had  just  got  his  ship,  and  I 
thought  by  the  heartiness  of  the  cheering  what  a 
good  fellow  he  must  be." 

"But  it  was  not  the  lieutenant  the  men  were 
cheering,"  Captain  Merivale  said  with  a  smile. 

"  No !"  General  Craufurd  said,  suprised.  "  Why, 
there  was  no  one  else  in  the  boat.  I  looked  atten- 
tively as  I  passed.  There  was  only  a  lieutenant,  a 
midshipman  who  was  steering,  the  men  rowing,  and 
two  little  marine  buglers,  who  had  their  handker- 
chiefs up  to  their  faces.  So  you  see  I  took  a  very 
minute  survey." 

"  You  did  indeed,"  Captain  Merivale  said,  laugh- 
ing. "  Well,  it  was  just  these  little  buglers  that 
the  crew  of  the  ship  were  cheering." 

General  Craufurd  looked  up  incredulously. 
"You're  joking,  Merivale.  The  crew  of  his 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  119 

majesty's  frigate  Latona  cheer  two  buglers  of 
marines  !  No,  no,  that  won't  do." 

"  It  is  a  fact,  though,  Crauf urd,  unlikely  as  it 
seems,  except  that  the  buglers  belong  to  the  Kor- 
folk  Rangers,  and  not  to  the  marines." 

"The  Rangers!  They  are  in  Hill's  division. 
What  is  it  all  about  ?  There  must  be  something 
very  strange  about  it." 

"  There  is  indeed,"  Captain  Merivale  said,  "  very 
strange."  And  he  then  related  the  whole  story  to 
his  visitor. 

"  They  are  trumps  indeed,"  the  general  said  when 
the  narrative  was  ended,  "  and  I  am  very  glad  that 
I  happened  to  hear  it.  I  will  speak  to  Hill  about 
it,  and  will  keep  my  eye  upon  them.  Be  assured 
they  shall  have  their  epaulets  as  soon  as  possible — 
that  is,  if  their  conduct  is  at  all  equal  to  their  pluck. 
It  is  the  least  we  can  do  when,  as  you  say,  they 
have  refused  midshipmen's  berths  to  stick  to  us. 
And  now  I  must  be  off." 

The  boat  landed  General  Craufurd  at  the  same 
landing-place  at  which  Tom  and  Peter  had  disem- 
barked half  an  hour  before.  Lieutenant  Armstrong 
had  spoken  a  few  words  to  the  officer  who  was 
superintending  the  landing  of  stores  and  horses,  and 
he,  being  far  too  busy  to  stop  to  talk,  briefly  said 
that  the  boys  could  go  up  to  join  their  regiment 
with  a  convoy  of  stores  which  would  start  that 
night. 

After  saying  good-by  to  their  friend  the  lieu- 
tenant, the  boys  sat  down  upon  some  bales,  and 


120  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

were  watching  with  much  amusement  and  interest 
the  busy  scene  before  them.  As  General  Craufurd 
passed  they  rose  and  saluted. 

"You  are  the  boys  from  the  Latona,  are  you 
not?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  the  boys  answered  in  surprise. 

"  Can  you  ride  ?" 

«  Yes,  sir." 

"  Follow  me,  then." 

Much  surprised,  the  boys  followed  the  general 
until  he  made  his  way  through  the  confusion  to  a 
group  of  newly  landed  horses.  Near  them  were  a 
couple  of  mounted  Hussars,  who,  at  the  sight  of  the 
general,  rode  forward  with  his  charger.  He  made 
a  sign  to  them  to  wait  a  moment,  and  walked  up  to 
the  men  who  were  holding  the  newly  landed 
horses. 

"  Which  of  you  have  got  charge  of  two  horses  ?" 

Several  of  the  men  answered  at  once. 

"  Which  of  you  are  servants  of  officers  on  my 
staff?" 

Three  of  those  who  had  answered  before  replied 
now. 

"  Very  well ;  just  put  saddles  on  to  two  of  them. 
These  lads  will  ride  them  ;  they  are  going  out  with 
me  at  once ;  they  will  hand  them  over  to  your 
masters." 

In  another  five  minutes  Tom  and  Peter,  to  their 
surprise  and  delight,  were  clattering  along  through 
the  streets  of  Lisbon  upon  two  first-rate  horses  in 
company  with  the  two  Hussars,  while,  twenty 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  121 

lengths  ahead,  trotted  General  Craufurd  with  two 
officers  who  had  been  down  to  Lisbon  upon  duty 
similar  to  his  own.  Once  outside  the  town,  the 
general  put  his  horse  into  a  gallop,  and  his  follow- 
ers of  course  did  the  same.  Once  or  twice  General 
Craufurd  glanced  back  to  see  how  the  boys  rode, 
for  a  doubt  had  crossed  his  mind  as  to  whether  he 
had  been  wise  in  putting  them  upon  such  valuable 
horses,  but  when  he  saw  that  they  were  evidently 
accustomed  to  the  work,  he  paid  no  further  atten- 
tion to  them. 

The  officers  riding  beside  him,  however,  looked 
back  several  times. 

"  What  luck  we  have,  to  be  sure,  Tom,"  Peter 
said,  "  and  I  can't  understand  this  a  bit.  How  could 
the  general  know  that  we  came  from  the  Latona ; 
as  he  evidently  did,  and  by  the  way  these  officers 
have  looked  back  twice,  I  can't  help  thinking  that 
he  is  talking  about  us." 

Tom  was  as  puzzled  as  Peter,  but  they  soon  for- 
got the  subject,  and  engaged  in  an  animated  con- 
versation with  the  Hussars  as  to  the  situation  and 
position  of  the  army,  and  the  supposed  strength  and 
locality  of  the  French,  concerning  which  they  were, 
of  course,  in  complete  ignorance.  An  hour  and  a 
half's  sharp  riding  took  them  to  Torres  Vedras, 
a  small  town  which  afterward  became  celebrated 
for  the  tremendous  lines  which  Wellington  erected 
there.  The  troops  were  encamped  in  its  vicinity, 
the  general  having  his  quarters  at  the  house  of  the 
alcalde,  or  mayor. 


122  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Your  regiment  is  a  mile  and  a  half  distant,  lads," 
General  Craufurd  said  as  they  drew  up  at  his  quar- 
ters ;  "  you  will  have  difficulty  in  finding  it  this 
evening.  Sergeant,  take  these  lads  round  to  the 
house  where  my  orderlies  are  quartered,  and  give 
them  some  supper.  They  can  join  their  regiment 
in  the  morning.  I  have  heard  of  you,  lads,  from 
Captain  Merivale,  and  shall  mention  your  conduct 
to  General  Hill,  and  be  assured  I  will  keep  my  eye 
upon  you." 

The  boys  were  soon  asleep  upon  a  heap  of  straw, 
and  at  six  next  morning  were  upon  the  road,  having 
already  had  some  coffee  and  bread  for  breakfast. 
They  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  their  way,  for 
orderlies  were  already  galloping  about,  and  the 
bugle  calls  came  sharp  upon  their  ears.  The  division 
was  to  march  at  seven.  The  Hangers  happened  to 
be  the  first  in  advance,  so  that  they  passed  through 
the  other  regiments  to  arrive  at  theirs. 

The  tents  were  down  when  they  arrived,  and 
packed  in  readiness  for  the  bullock  carts  which 
stood  by.  The  boys  paused  a  little  distance  off, 
and  looked  on  with  delight  at  the  busy  scene.  At 
a  note  on  the  bugle  the  tents  and  other  baggage 
were  stowed  in  the  carts,  and  then  the  men  hitched 
on  their  knapsacks,  unpiled  arms,  and  began  to  fall 
into  rank. 

No  one  noticed  the  boys  as  they  passed  between 
the  groups  and  approached  the  band,  who  were 
mustering  by  the  colors,  which  were  as  usual  placed 
in  front  of  the  guard  tent. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  123 

"  There's  Sambo,"  Tom  said ;  "  I  am  glad  they 
got  him  safe  on  board." 

The  negro  was  the  first  to  perceive  the  boys  as 
they  came  close  up  to  him.  As  he  saw  them  he 
gave  a  sudden  start,  his  eyes  opened  wider  and 
wider  until  the  whites  showed  all  round,  his  teeth' 
chattered,  the  shiny  black  of  his  face  turned  to  a 
sort  of  dirty  gray,  and  he  threw  up  his  hands  with 
a  loud  cry  :  "  Oh,  golly,  here's  dose  boys'  spirits  !" 

He  stepped  back,  heedless  that  the  big  drum  was 
behind  him,  and  the  next  moment  went  back  with 
a  crash  into  it,  and  remained  there  with  his  knees 
doubled  up  and  his  face  looking  out  between  them, 
too  frightened  and  horror-struck  to  make  the  least 
movement  to  extricate  himself. 

For  a  moment  no  one  noticed  him,  for  at  his  cry 
they  had  all  turned  to  the  boys,  and  stood  as  if 
petrified  at  seeing  those  whom  they  believed  had 
been  drowned  before  their  eyes  a  week  before.  The 
silence  did  not  last  long,  the  boys  bursting  into  a 
shout  of  laughter  at  Sam's  appearance. 

"  Spirits !  Sam,"  Tom  said  ;  "  not  by  a  long  way 
yet,  man.  How  are  you  all?  Come,  get  out  of 
that,  Sam,  and  shake  hands."  And  as  the  band  with 
a  shout  crowded  round  them,  the  boys  helped  Sam, 
who  was  trembling  all  over  from  the  shock  and 
fright,  from  the  drum. 

For  a  moment  the  boys  were  quite  confused  and 
bewildered,  for  as  they  hauled  Sam  to  his  feet  their 
comrades  of  the  band  pressed  round  them  cheering, 
every  one  trying  to  shake  them  by  the  hand. 


124  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

The  news  spread  like  wildfire  among  the  troops, 
and  there  was  at  once  a  general  rush  to  the  spot. 
The  boys  were  seized  in  an  instant,  and  each  raised 
on  the  shoulders  of  two  of  the  grenadiers,  and  as 
they  made  their  appearance  above  the  heads  of  the 
crowd  a  tremendous  cheer  broke  from  the  whole 
regiment. 

"What  can  be  the  matter?"  was  the  general 
exclamation  of  the  colonel  and  officers,  who  were 
just  finishing  their  breakfasts  in  a  cottage  which 
stood  close  behind  the  spot  where  their  tents  had 
been  pitched  in  the  rear  of  the  regiment.  "What 
can  be  the  matter  ?"' — and  as  the  cheering  continued 
there  was  a  general  rush  to  the  door.  There  they 
stood  astonished  at  seeing  the  whole  of  the  men 
clustered  in  one  spot,  shouting  and  waving  their 
caps. 

"What  can  be  the  matter?"  the  colonel  said 
again ;  "  the  whole  regiment  seems  to  have  gone 
mad." 

"  We  shall  know  in  a  minute,"  Captain  Manley 
said  ;  "  they  are  coming  in  this  direction." 

"Look  at  that  fellow  Sambo,"  exclaimed  Car- 
ruthers ;  "  he  looks  madder  than  all  the  rest." 

In  spite  of  the  intense  surprise  which  all  were 
feeling  there  was  a  general  laugh,  for  the  black  was 
performing  antics  like  one  possessed ;  his  cap  was 
gone,  he  jumped,  he  yelled,  he  waved  his  arms,  with 
a  drumstick  in  each  hand,  wildly  over  his  head  ;  he 
twisted  round  and  round ;  he  seemed  really  out  of 
his  mind.  Suddenly  he  left  the  crowd,  and  rushed 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  125 

on  ahead  at  full  speed  toward  the  group  of  officers, 
still  leaping  and  yelling  and  waving  his  drumsticks. 

The  officers  instinctively  drew  together  as  he  ap- 
proached, for  they  thought  that  the  gigantic  negro 
was  really  out  of  his  mind.  He  stopped  suddenly 
as  he  came  up  to  them,  and  tried  to  fall  into  his 
usual  attitude  of  attention. 

"  Oh,  Massa  Colonel,"  he  said  in  hoarse,  sobbing 
tones,  "  only  to  think,  only  to  think  !  'Scuse  Sam, 
sar ;  but  Sam  feel  he's  going  to  bust  right  up  wid 
joy,  massa.  Dat  no  matter ;  but  only  to  think ! 
Bress  de  Almighty,  sar !  only  to  think  !" 

None  of  the  officers  spoke  for  a  minute  in  answer 
to  these  disjointed  exclamations.  They  were  affected 
at  the  man's  great  emotion.  His  black  skin  was 
still  strangely  pale,  his  eyes  were  distended,  his  lips 
quivered,  tears  were  rolling  down  his  cheeks,  and 
his  huge  frame  was  shaken  with  sobs. 

"Calm  yourself,  Sam — be  calm,  rny  man,"  the 
colonel  said  kindly.  "  Try  and  tell  us  what  has 
happened.  What  are  the  men  so  excited  about? 
What  is  the  matter  with  them  ?" 

"  Oh,  Massa  Colonel,"  Sam  said,  "  me  try  tell  you 
all  'bout  it.  Only  to  think,  sar,  dose  boys  cum 
back  again  ;  dose  boys,  sar,  bress  dem,  dat  jumped 
into  de  water  and  got  drowned  just  to  save  dis 
poor  niggar,  sar.  Dey  cum  back  again  ;  only  tink 
obdat!" 

The  officers  looked  at  one  another  in  surprise. 

"  I  do  believe  he  means  the  Scudamores,  colonel," 
Captain  Manley  'exclaimed ;  "  but  no,  it  is  impos- 


126  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

sible;  no  one  could  have  lived  five  minutes  in  that 
sea,  and  we  know  that  they  could  not  have  been 
picked  up,  for  we  were  the  last  ship  in  the  fleet." 

"  Yes,  yes,  sar,  dat's  dem ;  dey  cum  back  sure 
enuff,"  Sam  said. 

Then  Carruthers  exclaimed,  "I  do  believe  it  is 
so ;  there  are  a  couple  of  boys  on  the  shoulders  of 
the  men  in  the  middle  of  the  crowd.  Yes,  and  by 
Jove,  it  is  the  Scudamores.  Hurrah!  I  am  glad." 

There  was  a  general  exclamation  of  pleasure 
from  the  whole  group,  for  the  regret  for  the  boys, 
who  had,  as  was  believed,  perished  in  the  perform- 
ance of  such  a  gallant  action,  had  been  general  and 
sincere,  and  Captain  Manley  lifted  his  cap  and  said 
reverently,  "Thank  God,  these  gallant  lads  are 
saved ;"  and  those  around,  although  some  of  them 
were  but  little  addicted  to  prayer,  repeated  the 
words  and  imitated  the  action. 

Carruthers  would  have  stepped  forward  in  his 
eagerness  to  greet  his  former  schoolfellows,  but 
Captain  Manley  laid  his  hand  quietly  on  his  shoul- 
der and  said  in  a  low  tone,  "  Wait,  Carruthers,  let 
the  colonel  welcome  them." 

And  now  the  crowd  came  up  to  the  cottage,  those 
in  front  falling  back  as  they  approached,  so  as  to 
let  the  grenadiers  come  forward  with  their  burden. 
The  boys  were  lowered  to  the  ground,  and  stood  at 
once  at  attention ;  their  faces  were  both  flushed 
with  excitement,  and  their  eyes  swollen  with  tears, 
so  much  were  they  both  moved  by  the  welcome 
which  had  greeted  them. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  127 

There  was  a  dead  silence  for  a  moment,  and  then 
Colonel  Tritton  said  in  a  loud,  clear  voice,  which 
was  heard  all  over  the  throng  of  men,  "  I  am  glad, 
lads,  to  see  you  back  again.  I  never  expected  to 
have  seen  you  again  after  we  caught  a  glimpse  of 
you  as  the  sea  washed  you  away.  You  have  seen 
how  the  men  have  welcomed  you,  and  1  can  assure 
you  that  the  pleasure  of  the  officers  that  two  such 
gallant  young  fellows  should  have  been  saved  is  no 
less  than  that  of  your  comrades.  A  braver  act  than 
that  which  you  performed  was  never  done.  I  shake 
hands  with  you,  and  congratulate  you  in  the  name 
of  the  whole  regiment."  And,  suiting  the  action  to 
the  words,  Colonel  Tritton  stepped  forward  and 
shook  the  boys  warmly  by  the  hand,  amid  a  great 
cheer  upon  the  part  of  the  whole  regiment.  Then 
he  held  up  his  hand  for  silence  again.  "  Bugler, 
sound  the  assembly ;  fall  in,  my  lads,  or  we  shall 
be  late.  Come  in  here,  boys ;  you  can  get  some- 
thing to  eat,  and  tell  us  in  a  few  words  how  you 
were  saved,  for,  even  now  that  1  see  you,  it  seems 
almost  impossible." 


128  THE  YOUNG  fcUGLERS. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE   PASSAGE   OF   THE   DUORO TALAVEBA. 

VERY  severe  was  the  drill  and  discipline,  and  not 
very  abundant  was  the  food,  and  there  was  a  gen- 
eral feeling  of  pleasure  when,  by  the  general  con- 
centration of  the  army  at  Coimbra,  it  was  evident 
that  active  operations  were  about  to  commence.  On 
the  5th  of  May  nine  thousand  Portuguese,  three 
thousand  Germans,  and  thirteen  thousand  British 
troops  were  assembled.  Sir  Arthur  was  already 
there,  and  upon  the  6th  General  Beresford  marched 
with  ten  thousand  men,  and  orders  were  issued  for 
the  rest  of  the  army  to  march  out  early  the  next 
day. 

The  Norfolk  Rangers  were  in  high  glee  that 
night,  and  many  were  the  tales  told  by  the  old 
soldiers  of  former  engagements  in  which  they  had 
taken  part.  Next  morning  at  daybreak  the  tents 
were  struck,  the  baggage  packed,  and  the  wagons 
loaded.  The  people  of  Coimbra  came  out  in  crowds 
to  see  the  troops  march,  and  many  were  the  bless- 
ings and  good  wishes  poured  out  as  the  long  line 
wound  through  the  streets  of  the  citv. 

division  was  the  last,  and  the  rain  was 


THE    YOUNG  BUGLERS.  139 

pouring  down  with  great  force  by  the  time  they 
started.  The  march,  however,  was  not  a  very  long 
one,  for  Beresford's  division,  which  was  to  operate 
upon  the  Upper  Duoro,  had  a  long  distance  to 
make,  and  it  was  necessary  that  all  should  be  ready 
for  simultaneous  action.  For  this  purpose  the  army 
halted  the  next  day,  and  upon  the  9th  marched  to 
Aveiro  on  the  River  Yonga.  Here  a  large  flotilla 
of  boats  was  found,  and  the  Norfolk  Eangers  with 
two  other  regiments  were  ordered  to  embark  at 
once.  The  Portuguese  fisherman  entered  heart  and 
soul  into  the  business,  and  in  perfect  silence  the 
little  flats  were  rowed  up  the  lake  of  Ovar. 

The  soldiers  were  greatly  crowded  in  the  boats, 
and  were  glad,  indeed,  when  just  as  morning  dawned 
they  landed  at  the  town  of  Ovar. 

By  this  movement  they  were  placed  upon  the 
right  flank  of  Francheschi,  the  general  who  com- 
manded the  advanced  division  of  the  French  army. 
Soon  after  they  had  landed  the  French  were  at- 
tacked in  front,  and  finding  their  flank  turned,  and 
the  whole  British  force,  which  they  had  believed  to 
be  seven  days'  march  away,  in  their  front,  they  fell 
back  hastily. 

To  their  great  disappointment,  the  Rangers  took 
no  share  in  this  the  first  skirmish  of  the  war.  But 
Hill's  orders  were  not  to  press  on  the  enemy's  rear. 
Three  days  more  of  marching  and  skirmishing 
brought  them  close  to  the  Duoro  on  the  evening  of 
the  llth.  The  enemy  crossed  that  evening  and 
destroyed  the  bridge,  and  during  the  night  the 


130  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

British  troops  were  all  brought  up  and  massed  be- 
hind a  hill  called  the  Serra.  This  hill  stood  upon  a 
sharp  elbow  which  the  river  makes  just  above  the 
town  of  Oporto,  and  the  British  were  here  com- 
pletely hidden  from  Marshal  Soult,  who  had  no 
idea  that  they  were  so  close  at  hand.  Indeed, 
knowing  that  the  bridge  was  broken  and  that  all 
the  boats  had  been  carefully  taken  over  to  that 
side  of  the  river,  the  marshal  dreamed  not  that 
Sir  Arthur  would  attempt  to  cross,  but  imagined 
that  he  would  take  boats  lower  down  near  the 
mouth  of  the  river  and  there  endeavor  to  cross. 
To  prevent  such  an  attempt  Soult  had  massed  his 
army  below  Oporto. 

The  troops  were  ordered  to  pile  arms,  and  eat 
their  breakfast,  but  to  keep  in  position.  "  I  won- 
der how  we  are  to  cross  the  river,  Tom?"  Peter 
said.  "  It  is  three  hundred  yards  across,  with  a  rapid 
current ;  no  man  in  the  world  could  swim  that  and 
carry  his  musket  and  ammunition  across." 

"  I  expect  Sir  Arthur  is  reconnoitering,  Peter ;  I 
saw  him  go  up  the  hill  to  that  convent  there ;  he 
must  be  able  to  see  from  there  right  over  Oporto." 

An  hour  passed,  and  then  two  or  three  officers 
were  seen  coming  down  from  the  hill ;  one  went  up 
to  General  Hill,  who  happened  at  the  moment  to  be 
talking  to  Colonel  Tritton.  "  You  are  to  prepare 
to  cross,  sir  ;  Colonel  Waters  has  discovered  a  small 
boat  brought  across  by  a  Portuguese  in  the  night. 
They  are  going  to  cross  to  that  great  convent  you 
see  upon  the  other  side.  They  will  bring  back 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  131 

boats  with  them,  and  you  will  cross  at  once,  take 
possession  of  the  convent,  and  hold  it  against  any 
force  that  may  be  brought  against  you  until  rein- 
forcements arrive." 

Very  quickly  were  the  orders  passed,  and  with  a 
smile  of  satisfaction  the  men  took  their  arms  and 
fell  in.  They  were  moved  near  the  river,  and  kept 
under  shelter  of  some  houses. 

"  Keep  near  me,"  Colonel  Tritton  said  to  Tom 
and  Peter ;  "  I  may  want  you  to  carry  messages ; 
there  will  be  no  sounding  of  bugles  to-day." 

Keeping  under  the  shade  of  some  trees  so  that 
they  could  command  a  view  of  the  river  without 
being  seen  from  the  opposite  side,  Colonel  Tritton 
with  two  of  his  officers  and  his  two  buglers  watched 
what  was  going  on.  A  few  paces  ahead  of  them 
were  Generals  Paget  and  Hill,  like  themselves, 
watching  the  daring  experiment.  Behind,  under 
shelter  of  the  houses,  were  the  troops  in  dense 
masses.  The  Rangers,  as  the  first  regiment  in 
General  Hill's  division,  were  in  front,  and  would 
naturally  be  the  first  to  cross.  It  was  a  most  anx- 
ious moment,  as  Colonel  Waters  and  two  Portu- 
guese pushed  the  tiny  boat  from  shore  and  pulled 
across  stream.  The  bulk  of  the  Serra  Hill  hid  the 
river  at  this  point,  and  even  the  convent  opposite, 
from  the  sight  of  the  French  army  formed  up  below 
the  town,  but  there  were  no  doubt  stragglers  all 
over  the  city,  and  the  whole  baggage  of  the  French 
army  was  in  retreat  by  the  road  to  Yalarga  which 
ran  at  a  short  distance  behind  the  convent. 


132  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Most  anxiously  their  eyes  were  strained  upon  the 
opposite  bank,  from  which  they  expected  to  see  the 
flash  of  musketry,  as  the  little  boat  neared  the  con- 
vent. All,  however,  was  as  still  as  death.  Behind 
them  they  heard  a  rumble,  and  looking  round  saw 
eighteen  guns  on  their  way  up  the  hill.  From  this 
eminence  they  could  command  the  ground  around 
the  Seminary,  as  the  convent  across  the  water  was 
called,  and  thus  afford  some  aid  to  the  troops  as 
they  crossed. 

There  was  a  murmur  of  satisfaction  as  the  boat 
neared  the  opposite  shore,  and  after  lying  still  for 
a  moment  to  reconnoiter  the  convent,  pulled  boldly 
up  to  the  landing-place,  where  its  occupants  disem- 
barked and  entered  the  Seminary.  Their  absence 
was  not  long.  In  a  few  minutes  they  reappeared 
with  eight  or  ten  men,  and  then  at  once  entered 
and  cast  off  three  large  boats  moored  along-side. 

o  o 

The  boys  could  hardly  repress  a  cheer  as  they 
saw  them  fairly  under  wa}r.  An  officer  now  left 
the  side  of  the  general,  and  came  to  Colonel  Tritton. 
"  You  will  get  your  first  company  in  readiness  to 
embark,  sir  ;  do  not  let  them  show  themselves  until 
the  last  moment." 

Colonel  Tritton  joined  his  men.  "  Captain  Man- 
ley,  take  your  company  forward;  when  the  first 
boat  touches  the  shore  embark.  Let  there  be  no 
no  noise  or  confusion." 

"  God  bless  you,  Peter,"  Tom  said,  as  they  sepa- 
rated ;  "  your  company  won't  be  many  minutes  after 
us ;"  for  the  bugler  of  the  first  company  was  ill, 
and  Tom  was  ordered  to  take  his  place. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

As  the  boat  touched  the  shore  Captain  Manley 
ordered  the  leading  files  of  his  company  to  come 
from  under  cover  and  take  their  place  in  the  boat. 
Twenty-four  men  entered,  and  when  the  other  boats 
were  also  full  Captain  Manley  took  his  place, 
followed  by  his  bugler,  and  the  boats  pushed  off 
again. 

There  was  a  dead  silence  in  the  boat,  broken  only 
by  the  sound  of  the  oars  as  the  Portuguese  tugged 
manfully  at  them,  each  oar  being  double-banked  by 
a  soldier.  The  rest  sat  with  their  muskets  in  their 
hands,  their  pouches  open  ready  for  use,  and  their 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  shore.  All  was  quiet,  and  with 
a  sigh  of  relief,  and  a  hearty  hurrah  muttered  under 
their  breath,  the  men  leaped  from  the  boat  and  ran 
up  to  the  Seminary. 

It  was  a  large  building  with  a  flat  roof,  and  the 
inclosure  around  it  was  surrounded  by  a  high  wall 
which  swept  round  to  the  water's  edge  on  either 
side.  The  only  entrance  was  through  a  stout  gate 
studded  with  iron.  This  was  already  closed  and 
i tarred  ;  the  captain  at  once  distributed  his  men  at 
the  upper  windows  of  the  Seminary,  with  orders  not 
to  show  themselves  until  the  alarm  was  given. 

They  had  scarcely  taken  their  places  when  they 
were  joined  by  the  occupants  of  the  second  boat, 
while  those  of  the  third,  in  which  General  Paget 
himself  crossed,  were  but  a  minute  or  two  later. 
Just  as  they  touched  the  shore,  however,  there  was 
a  sudden  shout  heard  ;  this  was  followed  by  others, 
and  in  five  minutes  a  wild  hubbub  was  heard  in  the 


134  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

town.  Drums  beat  to  arms,  and  it  was  evident  that 
the  enemy  were  at  last  awake  to  the  fact  that  the 
British  had  effected  a  lodgment  upon  their  side  of 
the  stream. 

"  We  shall  have  it  hot  presently,"  Captain  Manley 
said  to  Tom.  "  They  will  be  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
before  they  can  get  round  here,  and  we  shall  have 
the  three  boats  back  by  that  time.  The  one  we 
came  in  is  halfway  across  already." 

Seven  or  eight  minutes  later  a  heavy  column  of 
men  was  seen  pouring  out  of  the  upper  gate  of  the 
town.  As  they  got  into  the  open  ground  they 
threw  out  clouds  of  skirmishers,  and  pushed  down 
toward  the  convent.  A  heavy  fire  was  at  once 
opened  upon  them  by  the  English  guns  upon  the 
Serra  Hill.  There  was  no  longer  any  need  for  con- 
cealment. The  soldiers  in  the  convent  took  their 
places  at  the  windows,  and  as  they  did  so  could 
hear  the  loud  hurrahs  of  their  comrades  as  they 
crowded  down  to  the  bank  upon  the  other  side  of 
the  river  to  await  their  turn  to  embark.  Before 
the  enemy  were  within  musket-shot,  three  boat-loads 
more  had  been  landed,  and  there  were,  therefore, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  now  in  the  convent. 
From  the  gates  of  the  city  the  French  artillery 
came  pouring  out,  and  taking  up  a  position  upon  an 
eminence,  opened  fire  upon  the  convent  just  as  the 
infantry  had  got  within  musket  range. 

So  suddenly  did  the  noise  of  the  enemy's  cannon- 
ade, the  crashing  of  the  balls  against  the  thick  walls 
of  the  Seminary,  the  rattle  of  the  enemy's  musketry, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  135 

and  the  louder  roar  of  the  muskets  of  the  defenders, 
blended  on  both  sides  with  shouts  and  cheers,  break 
out,  that  for  a  minute  or  two  Tom  felt  almost  be- 
wildered. He  had  no  time,  however,  to  think,  for 
an  officer  came  up  to  Captain  Manley.  "The 
general  is  up  on  the  roof ;  he  wants  a  bugler  sent 
up  to  him." 

Captain  Manley  nodded  to  Tom,  who  followed 
the  aid-de-camp  on  to  the  roof.  Here  he  could  see 
all  that  was  passing,  and  an  exciting  sight  it  was. 
Crowds  of  French  soldiers  were,  approaching  the 
wall,  keeping  up  a  tremendous  musketry  fire,  while 
behind  them  three  batteries  of  field-guns  were  send- 
ing their  messengers  of  death.  From  every  upper 
window  of  the  convent  the  answering  flashes  came 
thick  and  fast,  while  overhead  hummed  the  shot 
from  the  British  guns  on  the  Serra  Hill.  Oporto 
itself  was  in  a  state  of  uproar.  Drums  were  beat- 
ing, trumpets  sounding,  bells  clanging,  while  from 
the  house-tops  the  population,  men  and  women, 
were  waving  their  handkerchiefs  to  the  English, 
gesticulating  and  making  all  sorts  of  pantomimic 
expressions  of  joy. 

Looking  at  the  river  behind,  Tom  saw  with  pleas- 
ure that  some  more  boats  had  been  obtained,  and  that 
strong  reinforcements  would  soon  be  across.  The 
whistling  of  the  bullets  and  the  hum  of  the  round 
shot  were  incessant,  and  Tom  acknowledged  to  him- 
self that  he  felt  horribly  uncomfortable — much 
more  uncomfortable  than  he  had  an  idea  that  he 
should  feel  under  fire.  Had  he  been  actively 


136  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

engaged,  he  would  have  hardly  experienced  this 
feeling ;  but  to  stand  impassive  under  a  heavy  lire 
is  trying  to  the  nerves  of  the  oldest  soldier.  He 
was  angry  with  himself  that  he  was  not  more  in- 
different to  the  whizzing  of  the  balls ;  but  the  sensa- 
tion of  discomfort  under  fire  is  beyond  the  control 
of  the  will,  and  it  is  no  unusual  thing  to  see  a  young 
soldier  who,  later  in  the  day,  may  display  an  almost 
reckless  courage,  yet  at  first  flinch  whenever  balls 
hiss  close  by  him,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to  the 
contrary.  Tom  was  able,  however,  to  control  any 
outward  manifestation  of  his  feelings,  and  took  his 
place  a  few  paces  behind  General  Paget,  who  was 
standing  with  one  of  his  officers  by  his  side,  watch- 
ing the  force  which,  momentarily  increasing,  was, 
in  spite  of  the  British  fire,  making  its  way  onward 
toward  the  gate. 

It  was  evident  that  the  general  considered  the 
danger  to  be  pressing,  as  he  once  or  twice  looked 
back  to  see  how  quickly  the  reinforcements  were 
crossing  the  river.  The  first  time  that  he  did  so, 
his  eye  fell  on  Tom.  "  Get  behind  those  big  chim- 
neys, lad.  There  is  no  use  in  exposing  yourself 
unnecessarily." 

Tom  obeyed  the  order  with  alacrity,  and,  once  in 
shelter,  was  soon  able  to  bring  his  nerves  under 
control,  and  to  look  round  the  corner  of  his  shelter 
without  flinching  when  the  bullets  sang  past.  In 
five  minutes  General  Hill  joined  Paget  on  the  roof, 
and  just  as  he  did  so  the  latter  was  severely 
wounded  and  fell. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  137 

Tom  ran  forward  to  assist  him,  and,  kneeling  be- 
side him,  partially  supported  him  until  four  men 
came  up  and  carried  him  below.  The  position  of 
the  little  garrison  was  now  very  precarious,  the 
artillery  fire  concentrated  upon  them  was  heavy, 
and  the  French  swarmed  up  to  the  wall,  which  they 
in  vain  endeavored  to  climb.  The  English  kept  up 
a  tremendous  fire  upon  them,  cheering  constantly 
as  fresh  reinforcements  arrived,  or  as  the  enemy 
was  momentarily  repulsed. 

Tom  had  now  lost  all  nervousness,  and  was  stand- 
ing eagerly  watching  the  fight,  when  a  ball  knocked 
his  shako  off.  The  general  happened  to  turn 
round  at  the  moment.  "  That  was  a  narrow 
escape,"  he  said  with  a  smile.  "  What  is  your 
name,  lad?" 

"  Scudamore,  sir,"  Tom  answered. 

'•  Scudamore — Scudamore.  Yes,  I  remember  the 
name  now.  You  are  one  of  the  lads  General  Crau- 
furd  spoke  to  me  about.  I  want  to  see  you.  Come 
to  me  to-morrow  with  your  brother.  Go  down 
now  and  join  your  company ;  I  do  not  want  you 
here." 

Tom  gladly  went  down,  for  he  longed  to  be  doing 
something.  He  soon  found  his  company,  and  tak- 
ing up  a  firelock  of  one  of  the  men  who  had  fallen, 
was  soon  hard  at  work  loading  and  firing  into  the 
assailants.  For  an  hour  the  strife  continued.  For- 
tunately General  Murray  had  found  some  boats 
three  miles  higher  up  the  stream,  and  had  crossed, 
thus  menacing  the  enemy's  line  of  retreat.  Sud- 


138  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

denly  a  great  pealing  of  bells  was  heard  in  Oporto, 
with  shouting  and  cheering,  and  the  house-tops 
were  covered  with  people  waving  their  handker- 
chiefs. The  French  were  evacuating  the  town. 
The  inhabitants  at  once  took  across  some  large 
barges  to  Villa  Neva,  a  suburb  lying  across  the 
river,  and  just  below  the  Serra  Hill.  Here  Sher- 
brooke  began  to  cross. 

It  was  now  the  time  for  the  English  to  take  the 
offensive.  There  were  now  three  battalions  in  the 
Seminary,  and  as  the  French  drew  sullenly  off  to 
join  the  column  now  flowing  steadily  out  from 
Oporto  along  the  Yalonga  road  the  gates  were 
thrown  open,  and  the  English  passing  out  formed 
outside  the  walls,  and  poured  volley  after  volley 
into  the  retreating  foe.  Had  Murray  fallen  upon 
their  flank  the  disaster  of  the  French  would  have 
been  complete;  but  this  general  feared  that  the 
enemy  would  turn  upon  him,  and  destroy  his  divi- 
sion before  assistance  could  arrive,  and  he  therefore 
remained  inactive,  and  allowed  the  long  column  of 
fugitives  to  pass  unmolested. 

For  the  next  eight  days  the  English  army  fol- 
lowed hotly  in  pursuit,  and  several  skirmishes 
occurred;  but  Soult  effected  a  most  masterly  re- 
treat, saving  his  army,  when  it  seemed  upon  the  brink 
of  destruction,  by  leaving  his  guns  and  baggage 
behind  him,  and  leading  his  men  by  paths  over 
mountains  supposed  to  be  impassable  for  any  large 
body  of  men.  He  lost  altogether  six  thousand 
men  in  this  short  campaign.  This  included  three 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  139 

thousand  six  hundred  prisoners  either  captured  in 
action  or  left  behind  in  the  hospitals,  and  fourteen 
hundred  killed.  The  number  of  guns  left  behind 
was  fifty-eight.  The  English  had  only  three  hundred 
killed  and  wounded. 

Sir  Arthur's  plans  for  the  invasion  of  Spain  were 
not  yet  complete,  and  he  accordingly  halted  his 
army  to  await  supplies  and  reinforcements.  During 
this  time  the  young  buglers  had  no  opportunity  of 
calling  upon  Major-General  Hill.  The  transport 
supplied  by  the  Spanish  government  had  failed 
grossly,  and  the  troops  were  badly  fed  at  a  time 
when,  taking  long  marches,  they  most  required 
support.  The  first  day  after  they  halted  the  boys 
determined  that  they  would,  as  soon  as  they  were 
off  duty,  call  upon  General  Hill.  While  parade  was 
going  on,  however,  they  saw  the  general  ride  up  to 
Colonel  Tritton,  and  enter  into  conversation  with 
him.  The  bugler,  who  was  standing  near,  was 
ordered  to  sound  the  call  for  the  officers  to  assemble 
in  front ;  and  when  they  did  so  Colonel  Tritton  left 
the  general's  side  and  spoke  a  few  words  with  them. 
There  was  a  short  conversation,  and  then  the  colo- 
nel rejoined  the  general's  side,  and  the  officers 
returned  to  their  places.  The  colonel  now  rode  for- 
ward to  the  center  of  the  line,  and  said  in  loud 
tones,  "Men,  I  have  a  piece  of  news  to  tell  you 
which  I  think  that  you  will  be  glad  to  hear.  Upon 
my  arrival  at  Lisbon  I  reported  the  gallant  conduct 
of  Tom  and  Peter  Scudamore  in  rescuing  one  of 
their  comrades  when  washed  overboard  in  the  Bay 


140  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

of  Biscay.  Captain  Merivale,  of  the  Latona,  also 
reported  it,  and  General  Hill,  when  he  heard  the 
circumstances,  was  also  good  enough  to  send  home 
a  report  recommending  them  for  promotion.  He 
has  received  an  answer  from  the  commander-in- 
chief,  announcing  that  they  are  both  granted  com- 
missions in  this  regiment,  as  a  reward  for  their  act  of 
distinguished  gallantry.  The  regiment  is  dismissed." 
As  the  men  fell  out  they  gave  a  loud  and  general 
cheer,  and  Tom  and  Peter  were  surrounded  by  their 
comrades,  who  shook  them  by  the  hand,  and  con- 
gratulated them  upon  their  promotion.  The  boys 
were  too  much  surprised  and  affected  to  speak,  and 
they  had  scarcely  recovered  from  their  bewilder- 
ment when  Carruthers  came  up  to  them,  and  led 
them  to  the  colonel.  Here  General  Hill  first,  and 
then  all  the  officers,  warmly  shook  hands  with 
them.  The  boys  were  much  touched  by  the  warmth 
with  which  they  were  received,  and  were  soon  hur- 
ried off  to  the  tents  of  the  officers.  Several  of  the 
ensigns  were  slight  young  men,  and  they  insisted 
upon  rigging  the  boys  out  in  uniform,  and  the  boys 
had  the  less  scruple  in  accepting  the  kind  offer  inas- 
much as  they  expected  every  day  to  enter  Spain, 
when  the  baggage  would  be  cut  down  to  the  smallest 
possible  proportion,  and  the  officers  as  well  as  the 
men  be  obliged  to  leave  almost  everything  behind 
them.  Sam  was  delighted  at  the  promotion  of  his 
friends,  and  asked  to  be  appointed  their  servant,  a 
request  which  was  at  once  acceded  to.  The  regi- 
ment had  now  been  three  months  in  Spain,  and  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  141 

boys  had  continued  to  work  hard  at  Spanish,  de- 
voting several  hours  a  day  to  its  study,  and  talking 
it  whenever  they  could  find  an  opportunity — no 
difficult  matter  as  Portugal  was  full  of  Spanish,  who 
had  crossed  the  frontier  to  avoid  the  hated  yoke  of 
the  French. 

The  delay  in  invading  Spain  was  caused  partly 
from  want  of  transport,  but  more  by  the  utter  in- 
capacity of  the  Spanish  Junta  or  government,  and 
by  the  arrogance  and  foil}7  of  Cuesta,  the  Spanish 
commander-in-chief,  who  was  always  proposing  im- 
practicable schemes  to  Wellington,  and,  inflated 
Avith  Spanish  pride  and  obstinacy,  believed  that  his 
own  worthless  troops  were  fully  a  match  for  the 
French,  and  was  jealous  in  the  highest  degree  of 
the  British  general. 

At  last,  on  the  27th  of  June,  the  British  army 
advanced.  Scarcely  had  they  made  a  day's  march, 
however,  when  the  utter  faithlessness  of  the 
Spaniards  became  manifest.  The  provisions  and 
transport  promised  were  not  forthcoming,  and  from 
the  very  day  of  their  advance  the  British  were  badly 
fed,  and  indeed  often  not  fed  at  all ;  and  so  great 
were  their  sufferings  during  the  campaign — suffer- 
ings caused  by  the  heartlessness  of  the  people  whom 
they  had  come  to  deliver  from  a  foreign  yoke,  that 
the  British  soldiers  came  to  cherish  a  deep  and 
bitter  hatred  against  the  Spanish  ;  and  it  was  this 
intense  feeling  of  animosity  which  had  no  little  to 
do  with  the  cruel  excesses  of  the  English  soldiery 
upon  the  capture  of  Burgos  and  San  Sebastian. 


142  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

After  many  delays  from  these  causes,  the  British 
army  reached  Oropesa  upon  the  20th  of  July,  and 
there  formed  a  junction  with  Cuesta's  army.  Upon 
the  22d  the  allied  armies  moved  forward,  and  upon 
the  same  day  the  Spaniards  came  in  contact  with 
the  French,  and  should  have  inflicted  a  severe  blow 
upon  them,  but  the  ignorance  and  timidity  of  the 
Spanish  generals  enabled  the  enemy  to  draw  off 
and  concentrate  without  loss. 

The  British  troops  had  now  been  for  many  days 
upon  half  rations,  and  Sir  Arthur  gave  notice  to 
the  Junta  that  unless  his  requisitions  were  com- 
plied with,  he  should  retire  from  Spain.  Cuesta, 
however,  believing  that  the  French  were  retreating 
in  haste,  pushed  his  army  across  the  river  Alberche, 
with  the  vain  idea  of  defeating  them,  and  entering 
Madrid  in  triumph.  Sir  Arthur,  seeing  the  fatal 
consequences  which  would  ensue,  were  the  Span- 
iards attacked  alone,  laid  aside  his  previously 
formed  resolution,  and  put  his  army  in  motion 
across  the  Alberche.  The  position  of  the  allied 
armies  was  now  most  dangerous — far  more  so, 
indeed,  than  the  English  general  supposed.  Badly 
informed  by  the  Spanish,  he  greatly  underrated  the 
enemy's  forces.  Taking  advantage  of  the  delay 
caused  by  the  want  of  provisions  and  carriage, 
Soult,  Victor,  and  Ney  were  marching  their  forces 
from  various  points,  and  concentrating  to  crush  the 
invading  army.  Upon  the  26th  the  French  met  the 
Spanish  army.  General  Zayas,  who  commanded 
the  Spanish  advance  of  four  thousand  infantry  and 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  143 

two  thousand  cavalry,  scarcely  offered  any  resist- 
ance, his  men  broke  and  fled  in  disorder,  and  the 
panic  would  have  spread  to  the  whole  Spanish 
army,  had  not  General  Albuquerque  brought  up 
three  thousand  more  cavalry  and  held  the  French 
at  bay,  while  Cuesta  retreated  in  great  disorder. 
The  Spanish  loss  by  dispersion  and  flight  was  no 
less  than  four  thousand  men,  and  the  whole  army 
would  have  beon  broken  up,  had  not  General 
Sherbrooke  advanced  with  his  division,  and  placed 
it  between  the  French  and  the  flying  Spaniards. 

The  allies  now  recrossed  the  Alberche  and  took 
up  a  position  to  cover  Talavera.  Sir  Arthur  chose 
a  strong  defensive  position,  as  it  was  evident  that 
the  Spanish  were  worse  than  useless  in  the  open 
field.  The  Spaniards  were  placed  with  their  right 
resting  upon  Talavera,  their  left  upon  a  mound 
whereon  a  large  field-redoubt  was  constructed. 
Their  front  was  covered  by  a  convent,  by  ditches, 
stone  walls,  breastworks,  and  felled  trees ;  and  thus, 
worthless  as  were  the  troops,  they  could  scarcely 
be  driven  from  a  position  almost  impregnable. 

The  line  beyond  the  Spanish  was  continued  by 
Campbell's  division,  next  to  which  came  that  of 
Sherbrooke,  its  left  extending  to  a  steep  hill. 
Mackenzie  and  Donkin  had  not  yet  fallen  back  from 
the  Alberche.  Hill  was  in  rear.  The  British 
troops,  including  the  German  legion,  were  nineteen 
thousand  strong,  with  thirty  guns.  The  Spaniards 
had  thirty-three  thousand  men  and  seventy  guns. 
The  Spanish  contingent  could,  however,  be  in  no 


144  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

way  relied  upon,  and  were,  indeed,  never  seriously 
engaged.  The  real  battle  was  between  the  nineteen 
thousand  British  troops  and  fifty  thousand  French. 
The  French  attacked  the  British  outposts  with  great 
impetuosity,  and  Mackenzie  and  Donkin  were 
driven  in  with  a  loss  of  four  hundred  men.  The 
latter  took  up  his  position  with  his  brigade  on  the 
hill,  on  Sherbrooke's  left;  the  former  took  post 
with  Campbell's  division,  to  which  he  belonged. 
The  French  cavalry  now  galloped  up  toward  the 
portion  of  the  line  held  by  the  Spanish,  and  dis- 
charged their  pistols  at  them,  whereupon  ten  thou- 
sand Spanish  infantry  and  the  whole  of  their 
artillery  broke  and  fled  in  wild  confusion.  For 
miles  they  continued  their  flight,  but  in  the  even- 
ing the  Spanish  cavalry  were  sent  round  in  pursuit, 
and  drove  some  four  thousand  of  these  cowards 
back  to  their  lines.  Seeing  the  wild  confusion 
which  was  raging  on  the  allies'  right,  Victor  re- 
solved, although  evening  was  at  hand,  to  make  a 
sudden  dash  upon  the  hill  upon  their  left,  which, 
held  only  by  Donkin's  brigade,  was  the  key  of  the 
position.  The  hill  was  very  steep  upon  the  front 
or  French  side,  while  toward  the  rear  it  sloped 
gradually.  Ruffin's  division  was  ordered  to  the 
attack,  followed  by  Yillette  in  support,  while 
Lapisse  was  ordered  to  engage  the  German  legion, 
which  was  on  the  left  of  Sherbrooke's  division. 

Hill's  division  was  lying  down  behind  the  hill 
when  Ruffln's  troops  advanced  to  the  attack.  There 
was  no  expectation  of  an  attack  that  evening,  and. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  145 

the  woods  and  increasing  darkness  covered  the  move- 
ments of  the  French  troops.  "Weary  and  hungry, 
the  English  soldiers,  disgusted  at  the  inhuman 
neglect  of  the  Spaniards,  and  furious  at  their 
cowardice,  were  chatting  over  the  events  of  the  day 
and  discussing  the  chances,  by  no  means  bright,  of 
the  expected  battle  to-morrow.  All  that  day  they 
had  had  no  food  whatever  save  a  small  portion  of 
grain,  served  out  raw  and  unground.  Tom  and 
Peter  had  been  chatting  with  the  officers,  who  were 
grouped  under  a  tree,  when  Sambo  came  up  to 
them  and  beckoned  them  aside. 

"  Look  here,  Massa  Tom,  here  six  eggs  ;  tree  for 
you,  tree  for  Massa  Peter." 

"  Thank  you,  Sam,  that  is  capital ;  but  you  know 
you  will  get  into  a  row  if  you  get  caught  taking 
things." 

"  Me  no  take  'em,  massa.  Old  hen  give  them  to 
me." 

Tom  laughed. 

"  How  was  that,  Sam  ?" 

"  Well,  massa,  me  saw  her  sitting  on  nest.  Me 
went  up  and  said  to  her,  '  Give  me  some  eggs,  old 
girl.'  She  say  '  Cluck.'  I  says,  '  Cluck  means  yes, 
I  suppose  ?'  She  say  '  Cluck '  again.  Clear  'nuff 
that,  so  me  take  eggs,  eat  tree,  bring  six,  young 
massa." 

"  I  am  afraid,  Sam,"  Tom  said,  laughing,  "  your 
story  would  hardly  save  you  from  the  triangles,  if 
you  had  been  caught.  However,  as  it  is  rude  to 
return  a  present,  of  course  you  cannot  take  them 
back  to  the  hen.  I  suppose  they  are  raw  ?" 


146  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Yes,  raassa ;  no  good  make  fire ;  make  hole  bofe 
ends,  suck  'em." 

u  All  right,  Sam ;  it  is  not  the  nicest  way,  but 
under  the  circumstances,  perhaps  it  is  the  best ;  at 
any  rate,  I  am  too  hungry  to  wait  till  we  can  get  a 
fire  lighted." 

So  saying,  the  boys  sucked  the  raw  eggs,  and  then 
joined  the  men,  when,  just  as  they  did  so,  first  a 
dropping  rifle  shot,  and  then  a  perfect  roar  of 
musketry  broke  out  upon  the  hill  above  them.  It 
needed  no  order  to  be  given.  The  men  fell  into 
their  places  and  prepared  to  climb  the  hill  and 
assist  Donkin's  brigade,  which  was  evidently  unable 
alone  to  resist  the  attack.  Knapsacks  were  thrown 
off,  firelocks  tightly  grasped,  and  the  regiment  im- 
patiently awaited  orders  to  advance.  None  were 
more  impatient  than  the  colonel,  who  after  a  few 
minutes,  seeing  by  the  fire  that  the  English  were 
falling  back,  and  that  the  French  had  gained  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  waited  no  longer  for  orders,  but 
gave  the  word  for  the  regiment  to  advance.  They 
were  but  halfway  up  the  hill  when  General  Hill 
himself  galloped  down  to  meet  them,  and  then  turn- 
ing led  the  way  beside  Colonel  Tritton. 

General  Hill  had  had  a  narrow  escape.  Donkin 
had  repulsed  the  French  who  attacked  him  in  front, 
but  his  force  was  insufficient  to  guard  the  whole 
crest  of  the  hill.  Consequently,  the  enemy  had 
come  up  round  his  flank,  and  were  now  in  actual 
possession  of  the  crest.  General  Hill,  ignorant  ot 
this,  had  ridden  with  his  brigade-major  right  into 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  147 

the  midst  of  the  French  before  he  found  out  his 
mistake.  His  brigade-major,  Fordyce,  was  killed, 
his  own  horse  wounded,  and  his  bridle  seized  by  a 
French  grenadier.  He  had.  however,  broken  away, 
and  had  ridden  off  under  a  storm  of  bullets. 

With  a  cheer  the  JSTorfolk  Rangers  followed  their 
gallant  leader.  They  reached  the  crest,  poured  a 
tremendous  volley  into  the  enemy,  and  charged  with 
the  bayonet.  The  French,  of  whom  but  a  small 
portion  had  as  yet  gained  the  crest,  were  unable  to 
resist  the  impetuous  onslaught,  and  at  once  gave 
way. 

The  Rangers  were  now  joined  by  the  Forty-eighth 
and  the  Twenty-ninth,  so  that  these,  with  Donkin's 
brigade,  formed  a  strong  body  of  troops.  The 
French,  who  had  fallen  back,  now  united  with  their 
main  body,  and  the  attack  was  renewed  with  all  the 
force  of  Ruffin's  division.  The  heavy  mass  pressed 
upward,  in  spite  of  the  destructive  fire  of  the 
British,  and  were  within  twenty  yards  of  the  crest, 
when,  with  a  hearty  cheer,  the  English  troops 
rushed  upon  them  with  the  bayonet,  and  the  French 
again  fell  back,  broken  and  disheartened. 

This  ended  the  fighting  on  the  27th  of  July. 
Long  lines  of  bivouac  fires  soon  blazed  upon  either 
side.  The  wounded  were  carried  down  the  hill  to 
the  field-hospital,  which  had  been  erected  under  its 
cover,  and  the  men,  eating  their  scanty  supper, 
wrapped  themselves  in  their  greatcoats,  and  were 
soon  asleep.  The  officers  chatted  for  a  short  time 
longer,  but  as  all  were  tired,  and  the  next  day  was 


148  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

sure  to  be  a  severe  one,  they  too  soon  lay  down  by 
their  fire. 

When  morning  broke  it  was  seen  that  the  enemy 
had  massed  a  large  force  of  artillery  upon  a  hill  just 
opposite  to  the  one  held  by  the  English.  Soon 
afterward  Ruffin's  division,  as  before  supported  by 
Villette,  advanced  to  the  attack,  covered  by  the 
tremendous  fire  from  his  artillery.  The  British  had 
no  adequate  force  of  artillery  to  reply  to  the  iron 
storm,  and  the  balls  swept  through  their  lines, 
mowing  down  their  ranks,  and  causing  great  loss. 
The  regiments  in  reserve  lay  down  to  avoid  the  iron 
shower,  while  the  Rangers  and  Forty-eighth  pre- 
pared to  resist  the  French  when  they  came  within 
fighting  distance. 

As  their  men  approached  the  summit  of  the  hill, 
the  French  artillery  was  obliged  to  cease  playing 
in  that  direction,  and  turned  its  attention  to  the 
British  center,  while  a  fierce  musketry  contest  took 
place  between  the  French  and  Hill  and  Donkin's 
men. 

The  ground  was  rough,  and  the  troops  on  both 
sides,  broken  up  into  small  bodies,  fought  desper- 
ately. General  Hill  was  wounded,  and  the  British 
troops  fell  fast.  The  French,  however,  suffered 
even  more,  and,  as  Hill  brought  up  his  reserve,  the 
English  gained  ground  foot  by  foot,  until  they  drove 
them  again  down  the  steep  side  of  the  hill.  As  the 
French  retired  their  artillery  once  more  opened  fire 
to  cover  their  retreat. 

A  pause  now  ensued ;  the  French  in  this  brief 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  149 

contest  had  lost  fourteen  hundred  men,  and  the 
British  had  suffered  severely.  The  French  then 
held  a  council  of  war,  and  determined  to  attack 
along  the  whole  line  in  force.  Hours  passed  away ; 
the  English  munched  their  corn,  smoked  their  pipes, 
and  watched  the  enemy  scattered  over  the  plain. 
The  weather  was  very  hot,  and  the  men  of  both 
sides  went  down  to  a  little  stream  which  divided 
their  positions,  drank,  and  filled  their  water  bottles 
in  perfect  amity.  Some  of  the  officers  who  spoke 
French  conversed  with  the  French  officers,  ex- 
changed cigars  for  brandy,  and  joked  and  laughed 
as  if  they  had  been  the  best  of  friends. 

At  one  o'clock  the  French  drums  were  heard  to 
beat,  and  the  men  were  soon  formed  in  order.  Tom 
and  Peter  stood  with  a  group  of  officers  on  the  brow 
of  the  hill.  Nothing  could  be  finer  than  the  sight 
Far  away  the  view  stretched  over  the  country, 
thickly  wooded,  and  with  chateaus  and  farmhouses 
scattered  here  and  there.  Through  the  trees  the 
dense  masses  of  the  French  could  be  seen,  as  they 
moved  in  columns  toward  the  positions  from  which 
they  were  to  attack.  Upon  an  eminence,  nearly 
opposite  to  their  position,  the  boys  could  see  a  long 
line  of  the  French  artillery.  Far  away,  to  the 
right,  rose  the  churches  of  Talavera,  while  behind 
the  hill  were  the  British  and  Spanish  cavalry,  ready 
to  charge  should  the  French  endeavor  to  turn  the 
British  left  by  pushing  round  its  foot.  Fifty  paces 
from  the  officers  of  the  Norfolk  Rangers  sat  Sir 
Arthur  Wellesley  on  horseback,  watching  atten- 


150  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

tively  through  a  fieldglass  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  and  at  a  short  distance  behind  him  were  his 
staff.  The  British  troops  were  standing  in  easy 
order,  a  little  behind  the  crest  of  the  hill,  so  as  to 
be  sheltered  from  the  artillery  fire  with  which  the 
French  were  sure  to  cover  the  advance  of  their 
column  of  attack. 

"  This  is  a  grand  sight,  Peter,"  Tom  said,  "  but  I 
wish  they  would  begin ;  it  makes  one  fidgety  wait- 
ing for  it." 

Scarcely  had  Tom  spoken  when,  as  if  in  answer 
to  his  wish,  a  series  of  jets  of  white  smoke  puffed 
out  from  the  opposite  hill,  and  two  or  three  seconds 
later  came  the  thunder  of  eighty  guns,  and  the 
whizzing  sound  of  as  many  balls.  Instinctively  the 
group  drew  back  a  pace,  but  it  was  not  upon  them 
that  this  tremendous  fire  was  opened.  It  was 
directed  against  the  right  of  the  British  line,  and 
almost  at  the  same  moment  a  cloud  of  skirmishers 
appeared  among  the  trees,  followed  by  the  dark 
columns  of  Sebastiani's  division. 

Upon  these  the  English  guns  at  once  opened  fire ; 
but  rushing  forward  with  their  usual  impetuosity, 
they  cleared  away  the  obstacles  which  had  been 
raised  across  the  British  front,  and  charged  with 
fury  against  the  British  position.  Campbell's  divi- 
sion, however,  assisted  by  Mackenzie's  brigade  and 
two  Spanish  battalions,  stood  firm,  and  driving 
back  the  skirmishers,  advanced  in  line,  cheering 
loudly.  The  head  of  the  French  column  withered 
away  under  their  tremendous  fire,  and,  pushing  for- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  151 

ward,  they  overlapped  it,  and  drove  them  back 
with  terrible  loss,  capturing  ten  guns.  Then  Camp- 
bell prudently  recalled  his  men  to  their  first  posi- 
tion, and  the  British  artillery,  which  had  neces- 
sarily been  silent  while  friend  and  foe  were  mingled 
together,  opened  furiously  upon  the  French  as  they 
tried  to  re-form  upon  their  supports.  A  Spanish 
cavalry  regiment  dashed  down  upon  their  flank, 
and  they  retired  again  in  great  disorder. 

Every  incident  of  the  fight  could  be  seen  from 
the  British  position  on  the  hill,  and  the  troops 
almost  held  their  breath  with  excitement  as  the 
British  lines  clashed  against  the  head  of  the  French 
column,  and  a  loud  shout  of  triumph  burst  out 
spontaneously  as  the  French  broke  and  fled. 

But  it  was  now  the  turn  of  the  left.  Already 
Villette's  division,  preceded  by  the  Grenadiers  and 
supported  by  Ruffin's  division,  was  advancing,  and 
the  British  cavalry  were  ordered  to  charge  them. 
The  ground  was,  however,  quite  unfit  for  cavalry. 
Colonel  Arentschild,  a  very  experienced  officer,  who 
commanded  the  German  Hussars,  drew  up  his  regi- 
ment at  the  edge  of  a  deep  cleft  which  crossed  their 
front,  and  refused  to  take  his  men  to  certain  de- 
struction. The  Twenty-third  Dragoons,  however, 
dashed  into  the  ravine.  Men  and  horses  rolled  over 
in  all  directions ;  still,  they  got  across,  and  charging 
furiously  between  the  French  infantry  regiments, 
which  poured  in  a  terrible  fire,  fell  upon  a  brigade 
of  Chasseurs  in  their  rear.  Yictor  sent  up  his 
Polish  lancers  and  "Westphalian  light  horse  to  the 


152  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

assistance  of  the  Chasseurs,  who  already  outnum- 
bered the  Twenty-third,  and  this  gallant  regiment 
was  completely  broken,  the  survivors  escaping  to 
the  shelter  of  Bassecourt's  Spanish  division,  which 
lay  beyond  the  hill,  having  lost  two  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  men  and  officers. 

Tom  and  Peter  did  not  see  this  disastrous  affair, 
for  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy's  column  they 
fell  into  their  places  in  the  ranks.  It  was,  however, 
in  vain  that  the  French  tried  to  gain  the  crest  of 
the  hill,  their  efforts  at  this  point  being  indeed  far 
more  feeble  than  they  had  been  either  in  the  morn- 
ing or  upon  the  previous  night.  It  was  in  the 
center  that  their  great  effort  was  made.  Here 
Lapisse  threw  his  division  against  that  of  Sher- 
brooke,  and,  covered  by  his  own  artillery  and  by 
the  guns  upon  the  hill,  charged  right  up  to  the 
position.  The  British,  however,  repulsed  them, 
and  the  Guards,  carried  away  by  the  excitement  of 
the  moment,  followed  them  with  reckless  ardor. 
The  French  reserves  of  infantry  and  cavalry  came 
up,  the  artilleiy  plied  the  British  with  shot  and 
shell,  the  fugitives  rallied  and  again  came  to  the 
attack,  and  the  Guards  fell  back  in  confusion.  The 
Germans  next  to  them,  severely  pressed,  began  to 
waver,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  that  the  British, 
victorious  upon  both  flanks,  were  yet  to  lose  the 
battle  by  being  broken  in  the  center. 

Now,  however,  the  Forty-eighth,  which  Sir 
Arthur  had  ordered  down  from  the  hill  when  he 
saw  the  rash  advance  of  the  Guards,  was  seen 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  153 

advancing  in  line  through  the  disordered  masses. 
Wheeling  back,  it  allowed  the  retreating  regiments 
to  pass  through  it,  and  then  again  formed  and  fell 
upon  the  flank  of  the  victorious  French  column. 
The  French  paused  in  their  advance,  the  Guards 
and  Germans  rallied  and  came  back  again  to  the 
fight,  the  shots  of  the  British  guns  plowed  lines  in 
the  column,  the  French  wavered,  and,  as  the  British 
light  cavalry  trotted  up  with  the  intention  of 
charging  them,  fell  back,  and  drew  off  to  their  first 
position  amid  shouts  of  victory  along  the  whole 
length  of  the  British  line. 

Thus  the  battle  ceased,  each  party  occupying  the 
ground  it  had  held  in  the  morning.  The  British 
loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  in  the  two 
days'  fighting,  was  sixty-two  hundred  ;  that  of  the 
French  seventy-four  hundred.  Had  the  British 
been  in  a  condition  to  have  sallied  from  their  posi- 
tion and  pursued  the  retiring  enemy,  the  victory 
would  have  had  far  greater  results ;  but,  exhausted 
and  half-starved  the  British  were  incapable  of 
following  up  their  advantage. 

The  next  morning  at  daybreak  the  French  army 
quitted  its  position,  and,  retiring  across  the  Al- 
berche,  formed  line  of  battle  there,  and  awaited  the 
attack,  should  the  English  take  the  offensive.  This 
they  were  in  no  position  to  do,  although  in  the  course 
of  the  day  Craufurd  had  come  up  with  the  Forty- 
third,  Fifty-second,  and  Ninety-fifth  Regiments. 
These  three  regiments  had  heard  of  the  first  day's 
fighting  from  the  Spanish  fugitives,  and  had 


154  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

marched  with  all  speed  to  the  assistance  of  their 
friends.  They  had,  carrying  their  kit  and  ammuni- 
tion, weighing  from  fifty  to  sixty  pounds,  actually 
marched  sixty-two  miles  in  twenty-six  hours  in  the 
hottest  season  of  the  year,  one  of  the  greatest  feats 
recorded  in  military  history. 

The  Rangers  had  suifered  heavily,  and  in  the  two 
days'  fighting  had  lost  thirty-eight  killed  and  one 
hundred  and  nine  wounded.  Among  the  former 
were  two  officers,  while  several  others  were 
wounded.  The  Scudamores  had,  fortunately,  both 
escaped  without  a  scratch.  The  inhumanity  of  the 
Spaniards  was  now  more  markedly  shown  than 
ever.  Although  both  in  Cuesta's  army  and  in  the 
town  of  Talavera  provisions  were  abundant,  yet  the 
inhabitants  carefully  concealed  them,  while  both 
the  wounded  and  fighting  men  of  the  British  army 
were  in  want.  So  great  was  the  misery  and  indig- 
nation of  the  soldiers  at  this  shameful  treatment, 
from  those  for  whom  they  were  doing  so  much, 
that  they  would  willingly  have  attacked  the  Spanish 
army  and  plundered  the  town ;  and  from  this 
period  to  the  end  of  the  war  the  British  hated  the 
Spanish  with  a  deep  and  bitter  hatred. 

"Wellesley  now  received  news  that  Soult  had 
crossed  the  mountains,  through  the  pass  of  Banos, 
which  had  been  left  undefended  by  the  Spanish, 
and  was  marching  upon  his  rear.  Believing  that 
Soult  had  only  thirteen  thousand  men  with  him — 
whereas  in  fact  he  had  fifty  thousand — Sir  Arthur 
left  the  Spanish  army  at  Talavera  in  charge  of  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  155 

hospitals,  with  six  thousand  sick  and  wounded,  and 
retraced  his  steps,  with  the  intention  of  giving 
battle  to  this  new  enemy. 

Upon  the  3d,  however,  he  learned  the  real 
strength  of  Soult's  army,  and  upon  the  same  day 
heard  that  General  Cuesta  had  basely  retreated 
from  Talavera,  without  having  provided  any  trans- 
port whatever,  according  to  his  promise,  for  the 
British  sick  and  wounded.  All  of  these  who  had 
strength  to  crawl  rejoined  the  British  army,  but 
fifteen  hundred,  who  were  unable  to  walk,  were  left 
behind,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  French,  by 
whom  they  were  treated  with  far  greater  kindness 
and  attention  than  they  had  been  by  the  Spanish. 
Upon  the  4th  Cuesta  joined  Sir  Arthur,  and  at  six 
o'clock  next  morning  the  only  possible  course  for 
safety  was  adopted.  Victor  was  advancing  from 
Talavera,  Soult  was  hurrying  from  Placentia  to  cut 
off  the  retreat  of  the  British,  and  accordingly  Sir 
Arthur  fell  back  upon  Arzobispo,  on  the  Tagus. 

The  artillery,  the  baggage  and  wounded  first 
crossed  the  bridge,  and  at  two  o'clock  the  entire 
army  was  across.  So  great  was  the  hunger  of  the 
men  that,  a  herd  of  swine  happening  to  be  seen 
close  to  the  line  of  march,  the  soldiers  ran  upon 
them,  shot  and  bayoneted  them,  and  devoured  them 
raw.  Taking  up  a  strong  position,  guarding  the 
bridges  of  the  Tagus,  the  British  army  remained  quiet 
until  the  end  of  August.  During  this  time  they  be- 
came so  weakened  by  starvation  that  they  could 
scarcely  walk ;  a  great  portion  of  the  cavalry  horses 


156  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

and  nearly  all  the  baggage  animals  died  of  hunger, 
and  at  last  Sir  Arthur,  finding  that  no  remonstrances 
availed  with  the  Junta,  fell  back  again  to  the  Por- 
tuguese frontier  by  slow  marches,  for  the  army  was 
so  utterly  enfeebled  that  it  resembled  a  vast  body 
of  invalids,  rather  than  an  army  of  unbeaten  sol- 
diers. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  157 


CHAPTER  Yin. 

A  PAUSE   IN   OPERATIONS. 

TALAVEEA  was  fought  in  July,  1809,  and  for  four 
months  longer  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley  kept  his  troops 
on  the  Spanish  frontier,  where  his  presence  served 
as  a  check  against  any  invasion,  even  by  a  very  for- 
midable army,  of  Portugal.  After  the  utter  bad  faith 
and  cowardice  shown  by  the  Spanish  the  great  com- 
mander was  determined  never  again  to  trust  in  their 
promises,  or  to  undertake  any  movement  dependent 
for  success  upon  their  co-operation.  The  Junta  then 
declared  that  the  Spaniards  would  alone  and  unaided 
sweep  the  French  beyond  the  Pyrenees,  and  a 
Spanish  army  of  forty-five  thousand  infantry,  seven 
thousand  cavalry  and  sixty  guns  advanced  in  Novem- 
ber against  Madrid.  It  was  met  by  a  French  army 
of  twenty-four  thousand  infantry,  five  thousand 
cavalry  and  fifty  guns.  The  battle  began  at  eleven 
in  the  morning,  and  by  three  the  French,  with  a 
loss  of  only  seventeen  hundred  killed  and  wounded, 
had  utterly  routed  the  Spanish,  with  a  loss  of  five 
thousand  killed  and  wounded,  forty-five  guns,  and 
twenty-six  thousand  prisoners !  After  this  signal 
and  disgraceful  defeat  Lord  Wellington — for  he  had 


158  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

now  been  raised  to  the  peerage — felt  that  nothing 
whatever  could  be  done  at  present  in  Spain,  and  so 
fell  back  into  Portugal,  where  for  many  months  he 
occupied  himself  in  preparing  to  meet  the  storm 
which  would,  he  knew,  fall  ere  long  upon  that 
country.  The  Portuguese  authorities  were  as  in- 
capable, as  untrustworthy,  and  as  intractable  as 
were  those  of  Spain ;  but  here,  happily,  Lord  "Wel- 
lington had  more  power.  England  was  paying 
large  subsidies  toward  keeping  up  the  Portuguese 
army,  which  was  commanded  by  Lord  Beresford, 
having  under  him  many  British  officers.  The  Por- 
tuguese troops  were  hardy,  obedient,  and  far  braver 
than  the  Spaniards ;  but  difficulties  often  arose  in 
keeping  the  army  together,  because  the  Portuguese 
government,  although  England  was  paying  the  prin- 
cipal expenses  of  the  army,  yet  starved  their  soldiers, 
and  often  kept  them  for  months  without  pay.  It 
was  only  by  the  strongest  remonstrances,  and  by 
the  oft-repeated  threat  that  he  would  embark  the 
British  troops,  and  abandon  Portugal  altogether, 
unless  these  and  other  abuses  were  done  away  with, 
that  Lord  Wellington  succeeded  in  reducing  this 
incapable  and  insolent  government  to  reason. 

Keinforcements  arrived  but  slowly  from  England, 
for  a  considerable  portion  of  the  available  troops  of 
England  were  frittered  away  in  holding  Cadiz  and 
in  an  expedition  to  Sicily.  In  these  two  places 
some  twenty-five  thousand  English  troops  were 
wasted — a  force,  which,  had  it  been  added  to  "Well- 
ington's army,  would  have  enabled  him  to  take  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  159 

field  against  the  French,  instead  of  being  forced  to 
remain  in  Portugal  for  upward  of  a  year  without 
discharging  a  single  shot  against  the  enemy.  Tom 
and  Peter  Scudamore,  however,  were  not  destined 
to  remain  inactive  all  these  weary  months.  One 
day  in  November,  just  before  the  army  fell  back 
from  the  Spanish  frontier,  General  Hill  was  dining 
at  mess  with  the  regiment ;  for,  rough  as  was  the 
accommodation,  the  officers  had  succeeded  in  estab- 
lishing a  general  mess.  The  conversation  turned 
ubon  the  difficulty  of  discovering  what  force  the 
various  French  generals  had  at  their  disposal,  the 
reports  received  by  the  commander-in -chief  being 
often  ridiculously  incorrect.  There  was  also  an 
immense  difficulty  in  communicating  with  the 
guerrilla  chiefs,  who,  almost  always  beaten  when 
they  came  to  blows  with  any  considerable  bodies  of 
the  French,  yet  managed  to  harass  them  terribly  by 
cutting  off  convoys,  falling  upon  small  parties,  and 
attacking  outposts  and  bands  of  foragers.  Knowing 
every  mountain  pass  and  road,  these  men  could,  if 
they  would,  keep  Lord  Wellington  informed  of 
every  considerable  movement  of  the  enemy,  and 
might  in  return  receive  instruction  for  acting,  when 
required,  in  concert  before  the  communication  of 
an  advancing  army,  or  might  create  a  diversion  by 
uniting  their  bands,  and  threatening  some  important 
post. 

The  next  day  the  boys  went  to  Colonel  Tritton's 
quarters,  and,  referring  to  the  conversation  of  the 
day  before,  said  that  they  were  willing  to  carry 


160  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

any  messages  that  the  general  might  require  sent, 
and  to  obtain  any  information  wanted. 

"  Nonsense,  boys,  you  would  be  hung  as  spies  be- 
fore you  had  been  gone  a  week." 

"  I  don't  think  so,  sir,"  Tom  said ;  "  we  have  had 
very  little  to  do  during  the  six  months  we  have  been 
out  here  except  to  learn  the  language  of  the  country, 
and  I  think  now  we  could  pass  very  well  as  Spanish 
boys.  Besides,  who  would  suspect  boys  ?  We  are 
quite  ready  to  chance  detection  if  we  can  be  allowed 
to  go." 

"  I  don't  like  it,  boys  ;  you  are  too  young.  Well, 
if  not  too  young,"  he  said,  in  answer  to  a  movement 
of  Tom's  to  speak,  "  we  all  like  you  too  well  to  run 
the  risk  of  hearing  you  have  been  hung  like  a  couple 
of  young  puppies." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  colonel ;  but  you  know  you 
promised  to  give  us  a  chance  if  you  could,  and  hav- 
ing a  chance  of  course  means  having  extra  danger  ; 
but  I  really  don't  think  that  there  would  be  any 
great  danger  in  it." 

"  Well,  boys,"  Colonel  Tritton  said,  after  a  few 
moments'  thought,  "  I  do  not  feel  justified  in  refus- 
ing your  application,  and  will  mention  it  to  General 
Hill.  There  are  very  few  officers  in  the  army 
who  speak  Spanish  fluently,  and  you  being  boys 
would,  as  you  say,  avert  suspicion.  But  I  tell  you 
fairly  that  I  hope  General  Hill  will  at  once  refuse 
to  entertain  the  idea." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  the  boys  said.  "  Of  course  that 
is  all  we  could  ask  you  to  do." 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  161 

The  next  day,  after  parade  was  over,  Colonel 
Tritton  walked  on  to  General  Hill's  quarters  at  a 
sort  of  half  farmhouse,  half  country  seat,  a  short 
distance  from  the  village,  round  which  the  Rangers 
were  encamped.  As  he  came  up  to  the  house  Gen- 
eral Hill  came  out  from  his  door  talking  to  a  Span- 
ish officer,  who  had  the  day  before  brought  some 
dispatches  from  one  of  the  Spanish  generals  to 
Lord  Wellington. 

Colonel  Tritton  joined  them,  and  they  stood  talk- 
ing together  upon  the  state  of  affairs  in  Spain  and 
of  the  advance  of  the  Spanish  army  on  Madrid, 
which  was  then  just  taking  place.  As  they  did  so 
two  very  ragged,  unkempt  Spanish  boys,  shoeless 
and  wretched-looking,  limped  up  and  began  to  beg. 
General  Hill  shook  his  head,  and  the  Spaniard 
impatiently  motioned  them  away. 

"  Por  Dios"  one  whined  ;  "  give  us  something ; 
we  are  starving.  The  French  have  burned  down 
our  houses  and  killed  our  fathers  and  mothers — we 
are  starving.  '  Por  Vamor  de  Dios !' " 

"  What's  the  poor  little  beggar  saying  ?"  General 
Hill  asked  the  Spaniard. 

"The  usual  story — house  burned,  father  and 
mother  killed,  starving.  I  dare  say  it's  all  a  lie." 

"  Where  did  you  live  ?"  he  asked  in  Spanish. 

"  In  the  village  of  Oros,  near  Valencia." 

"And  how  did  you  come  here?" 

"The  French  burned  the  village  because  the 
guerrillas  had  killed  a  party  of  theirs  in  it,  and  they 
killed  all  the  people,  and  then  carried  off  the  mules 


162  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

and  horses,  and  took  us  to  drive  some  of  them. 
That  was  four  months  ago.  We  had  to  drive  till 
the  other  day  at  Tamanes,  when  our  men  beat  the 
French  ;  our  mules  were  taken,  and,  as  they  did  not 
want  us  as  drivers,  we  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  come 
on  in  hopes  that  the  kind  English  would  give  us 
food." 

The  Spanish  officer  translated  what  the  boy  said, 
and  General  Hill  remarked  :  "  Yes,  that  was  a  bril- 
liant affair  of  the  Duke  del  Pasque's.  Here,"  he 
called  to  an  orderly,  "  give  these  boys  some  bread. 
I  will  see  what  can  be  done  for  them  afterward.  I 
am  afraid  nothing.  Poor  little  wretches !  their  story 
is  a  very  common  one." 

The  boys  received  the  bread  with  a  great  show  of 
thankfulness,  and,  sitting  down  by  the  roadside, 
began  to  munch  it  with  great  appetite.  The  Span- 
ish officer  now  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  off,  while 
General  Hill  and  Colonel  Tritton  remained  standing 
where  he  had  left  them.  Colonel  Tritton  then  told 
General  Hill  of  the  Scudamores'  request  to  be 
allowed  to  penetrate  into  Spain  as  spies  or  with 
dispatches. 

"  The  young  pickles !"  General  Hill  laughed. 
"  "What  will  they  be  wanting  to  do  next  ?  Pooh, 
pooh!  it  would  be  out  of  the  question." 

"  i  believe  they  do  really  speak  Spanish  exceed- 
ingly well,"  Colonel  Tritton  said.  "  They  generally 
act  as  interpreters  for  us,  and  none  of  the  officers 
speak  Spanish  with  anything  like  the  same  fluency." 

"As  far  as  the  language  goes  they  might  get  on, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  163 

perhaps,"  General  Hill  said;  "but  they  look  as 
thorough  English  boys  as  you  could  see.  They 
would  be  detected  at  once." 

"Yes,"  Colonel  Tritton  said,  "they  are  both 
thorough  English  boys;  I  should  know  them  any- 
where. What  a  contrast  to  the  miserable,  limping, 
hang-dog  lads  there  !  Poor  little  chaps !  Why, 
upon  my  word,  I  believe  the  fellows  are  laughing." 

General  Hill  looked  sharply  at  them,  and  as  he 
looked  from  one  to  the  other,  he  said  sarcastically, 
"  Poor  little  chaps  indeed !  You  said-  that  very 
naturally,  Tritton.  It  really  does  you  credit  as  an 
actor. 

Colonel  Tritton  looked  at  the  general  with  an  ex- 
pression of  blank  astonishment. 

"  What,"  said  the  general,  "  were  you  really  taken 
in  too." 

"  Taken  in  ?"  repeated  Colonel  Tritton  vaguely. 

"  Don't  you  see,  Tritton,  those  poor  little  chaps 
y  ou  are  pitying  so  are  those  two  young  scamps  we 
were  talking  about." 

Colonel  Tritton  stared  in  astonishment  at  the 
boys,  and  then,  as  he  recognized  them,  he  joined 
the  general  in  a  shout  of  laughter,  while  the  two 
boys  stood  up  and  saluted  with  an  attempt  at 
gravity  which  was  only  partially  successful,  so 
amused  were  they  at  the  astonishment  of  their 
colonel,  as  well  as  pleased  at  the  success  of  their 
disguise. 

Just  at  this  moment  there  was  a  sound  of  tramp- 
ing horses,  and  directly  afterward  an  officer  rode 


164  THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

up,  followed  by  four  or  five  others,  and  at  a  short 
distance  in  the  rear  by  an  escort  of  orderlies.  The 
boys  needed  not  the  exclamation  of  General  Hill 
"  Here  is  Wellington."  They  knew  who  the  rider 
was,  who  checked  his  horse  as  he  reached  the  gate, 
for  they  had  often  seen  him  as  he  rode  through  the 
camp.  A  slight  man,  very  careful  and  neat  in  his 
dress,  with  an  aquiline  nose  and  piercing  eyes. 
Peter  was  rising  as  he  drew  up  his  horse,  when 
Tom  said,  "  Don't  get  up,  Peter  ;  go  on  with  your 
bread.  It  would  look  absurd  for  us  to  salute  now, 
and  would  draw  attention  to  us,"  he  went  on,  as 
Lord  Wellington  dismounted,  threw  the  bridle  off 
his  horse  to  an  orderly,  and  saying  to  General  Hill, 
"  I  wanted  to  see  you  ;  come  in."  Colonel  Tritton 
went  into  the  house,  followed  by  the  two  officers. 
"  We'll  stop  here  till  they  come  out  again,  Peter. 
Perhaps  General  Hill  may  speak  to  him  about  us. 
At  any  rate,  we  will  keep  up  our  disguise  till 
they've  gone.  Let  us  play  at  odd  and  even."  It 
was  a  game  of  which  Spanish  boys  are  very  fond, 
and  they  may  be  seen  in  any  of  the  Spanish  towns 
sitting  by  the  houses  on  doorsteps  in  the  sun  play- 
ing. It  was  half  an  hour  before  the  general  came 
out  again.  He  was  about  to  mount  his  horse,  when 
he  glanced  at  the  boys,  who  were  sitting  against 
the  wall  a  few  paces  off,  seemingly  absorbed  in  their 
play,  and  paying  no  attention  whatever  to  him. 
Suddenly  he  changed  his  mind,  dropped  his  rein, 
and  walked  up  to  them. 

"  What  are  you  playing  for  ?"  he  asked  abruptly 
in  Spanish. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  165 

"  Keals,  senor,"  Tom  said,  looking  up,  but  not 
moving. 

"  You  are  poor ;  how  can  you  pay  ?"  asked  the 
general. 

"Oh!  we  don't  pay."  Tom  laughed.  "We 
keep  count.  I  owe  him  twelve  thousand  now.  I 
will  pay  when  I  get  rich.  He  can  wait."  And  he 
held  out  his  closed  hand  again  for  Peter  to  guess 
the  number  of  stones  it  contained. 

"  Come  inside,"  Lord  Wellington  said  abruptly, 
and,  turning,  led  the  way  into  the  house  again,  fol- 
lowed by  General  Hill,  Colonel  Tritton,  and  the 
two  boys. 

"  It  is  not  often  I  change  my  mind,"  he  said  to 
General  Hill ;  "  but  for  once  I  do  so  now.  When 
you  told  me  about  these  lads,  I  refused  to  employ 
them  on  such  dangerous  service,  even  when  you 
told  me  of  the  courage  and  coolness  which  they  ex- 
hibited on  the  voyage.  Now  I  have  tried  them  my- 
self, I  see  that  they  will  do.  If  they  could  keep  up 
their  disguise  when  I  spoke  to  them  suddenly,  and 
answer  without  hesitation  or  any  excitement  which 
could  have  shown  that  they  were  not  what  they 
pretended  to  be,  they  can  do  so  with  a  French  gen- 
eral. I  am  no  judge  of  the  purity  of  their  Spanish  ; 
but  as  you  tell  me  they  deceived  a  Spanish  officer 
just  now,  they  will  be  able  to  pass  with  Frenchmen. 
Now,  lads,"  he  went  on,  turning  to  them,  "  you 
have  thought  over,  of  course,  the  risks  you  are  going 
to  run,  and  are  prepared,  if  detected,  to  be  hung  like 
dogs."  The  boys  bowed. 


166  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  You  will  receive  detailed  instructions  through 
Colonel  Tritton,  together  with  such  dispatches  as  I 
may  wish  sent.  They  will  be  written  as  small  as 
possible.  You  will  not  go  for  a  week ;  devote  all 
your  time  to  studying  the  map.  The  largest  size 
we  have  shall  be  sent  to  your  colonel  this  afternoon. 
Of  course  you  will  be  supplied  with  money,  and  for 
anything  you  can  think  of  likely  to  assist  you,  speak 
to  Colonel  Tritton.  You  are  beginning  well,  young 
sirs.  If  you  like,  you  ought  to  make  a  noise  in  the 
world.  Now,  Hill,  I  must  be  off." 

And  the  general  left  the  room  with  the  officers, 
while  the  boys  were  stammering  out  their  thanks. 

"  Where  did  you  dress  up,  boys  ?"  Colonel  Tritton 
asked  them  after  the  general  had  ridden  off.  "  You 
did  not  come  out  from  camp  like  this,  I  hope  ?" 

"  No,  colonel ;  we  changed  in  that  little  wood 
there." 

"  What  have  you  colored  your  skins  with  ?" 

"  We  got  some  iodine  from  the  doctor,  sir,  and 
mixed  it  with  water  till  it  was  just  thick  enough  to 
tinge  our  skin.  It  will  wash  pretty  well  off  with 
plenty  of  scrubbing,  but  we  mean  to  use  walnut 
juice  when  we  start ;  it  lasts  much  longer,  and  is  a 
better  brown." 

"  I  am  not  sure,  boys,  that  you  had  not  better 
leave  your  faces  alone,  they  and  your  hands  are  so 
sunburned  that  you  would  pass  well  enough,  though 
you  must  dye  your  arms  and  legs.  Fortunately, 
your  hair  is  pretty  dark,  for  you  can't  well  carry 
dye.  Think  well  over  all  these  things,  for  your 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  16? 

lives  may  depend  on  some  trifle  of  this  kind.  I 
shall  see  you  at  mess." 

So  saying,  Colonel  Tritton  walked  on,  leaving  the 
boys  to  follow  at  their  leisure.  Just  as  they  were 
about  to  turn  off  to  make  for  the  wood  they  saw  a 
soldier  coming  along  the  road. 

"  That's  Sam,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  Peter;  we 
will  have  some  fun  with  him.  "We  can  trust  him 
to  say  nothing  in  the  regiment  about  meeting  us 
like  this." 

The  two  boys  accordingly  sat  down  by  a  low 
wall  by  the  roadside,  and  as  Sam  came  up  talked 
away  to  each  other  in  Spanish.  He  passed  without 
paying  any  attention  to  them.  After  he  had  gone 
a  few  yards  Tom  said  in  a  deep  loud  voice, 
"  Sambo."  The  black  halted  suddenly,  and  turned 
round.  First  he  looked  angrily  at  the  boys,  then 
he  went  to  the  side  of  the  road  and  looked  over  the 
wall.  Then  with  a  very  perplexed  air  he  looked 
up  and  down  the  road. 

"Who  dat  have  impudence  to  call  dis  colored 
gentleman  Sambo,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  Some 
fellow  did,  dat  for  sartin,  not  dose  little  Spanish 
trash,  dey  not  know  Sam's  name  ;  some  rascal  in 
regiment ;  he's  hid  somewhere.  I  pound  him  to 
squash  when  I  find  him." 

Muttering  thus  he  turned  to  proceed  on  his  way, 
but  before  he  had  gone 'twenty  yards  he  again 
heard  a  deep  shout,  "  Here  you  Sambo," 

The  black  jumped  as  if  he  was  shot.  "  My  golly," 
he  exclaimed,  and  then  walked  back  to  the  boys, 


168  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

who  were  talking  together,  shook  his  head  and 
again  looked  over  the  wall.  Then  he  stooped  down 
to  the  boys,  and  shook  his  fist  in  their  faces,  "  You 
little  debils,  you  call  Sambo,  I  pound  you  to  squash." 
The  boys  both  leaped  to  their  feet  with  an  air  of 
intense  surprise  and  alarm,  and  began  to  cry  out  in 
Spanish. 

"  No,  can't  be  you,"  Sam  said,  "  dis  chile  must  be 
witched,  no  place  for  men  to  hide,  sartin  not  dem 
boys.  Stone  wall  can't  call  Sambo  all  by  self, 
Sam's  going  out  of  mind.  Oh !  Lor,  dis  bery  bad 
affair,"  and  Sam  sat  down  by  the  roadside  with  a 
face  of  such  perfect  bewilderment  and  dismay  that 
the  boys  could  stand  it  no  longer,  but  went  off  to- 
gether into  a  scream  of  laughter,  which  caused  Sam 
to  jump  to  his  feet  again.  "What  you  larf  for, 
what  you  larf  for,  you  little  rascals,  you  play  trick, 
eh  ?  you  call  Sambo,  who  taught  you  dat  name  ?" 
and  he  seized  the  two  boys  and  shook  them  furi- 
ously. 

"  Oh  !  Sam,  Sam,  you  will  kill  us  with  laughing," 
Tom  got  out  at  last.  "  Do  leave  go,  man,  or  we 
shall  choke,"  and  as  Sam,  astonished,  loosed  his 
hold,  the  boys  sat  down  and  laughed  till  their  sides 
ached. 

"  Golly,"  exclaimed  the  negro,  as  he  looked  at 
them,  "  dose  boys  again.  "What  on  earth  you  do, 
Massa  Tom,  Massa  Peter,  in  dose  ragged  close, 
what  you  dress  up  like  two  beggars  for  ?  Lor ! 
how  you  take  in  dis  chile,  me  tink  you  little  Span- 
ish trash,  sure  enuff."  It  was  some  time  before  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  169 

boys  could  compose  themselves,  and  then  Tom  made 
Sam  sit  close  by  his  side. 

"  Look  here,  Sam,  this  isn't  a  joke,  this  is  a  serious 
business,  and  before  I  tell  you  anything  about  it 
you  must  promise  to  keep  the  secret  strictly,  as  it 
would  do  us  a  great  deal  of  harm  if  it  was  known." 
Sam  declared  at  once  that  if  they  tore  him  to 
pieces  with  wild  horses  he  would  say  nothing. 
Tom  then  explained  the  whole  thing  to  him,  and 
Sam  at  once  declared  that  he  would  go  too. 

"  Quite  impossible,  Sam.  You  do  not  speak  a 
word  of  Spanish,  and  although  at  any  of  the  sea- 
port towns  you  could  pass  as  a  runaway  sailor, 
there  could  be  no  possible  reason  for  your  wander- 
ing about  the  country  with  two  Spanish  boys." 

Sam  thought  for  some  time.  "  Now  dat  bery 
unlucky,  Massa  Tom,  dat  Sam  play  big  drum.  Big 
drum  fine  music,  but  big  drum  not  go  well  by  self. 
If  Sam  had  played  fiddle,  Sam  could  go,  but  Sam. 
couldn't  go  nowhow  with  big  drum." 

"  I  should  think  not,  Sam,  with  the  name  of  the 
regiment  painted  on  it.  No,  no,  you  must  stay 
behind.  There  won't  be  any  fighting  now  till  the 
spring,  and  by  that  time  we  shall  be  back  with  the 
regiment." 

"But  what  you  do  without  Sam?  who  black 
massa's  boots,  who  brush  his  clothes  ?" 

Tom  laughed.  "  These  clothes  would  fall  all  to 
pieces,  if  they  were  brushed  much,  Sam,  and  at  pres- 
ent we  have  no  boots  to  be  blacked." 

"  Where  you  get  dose  clothes,  Massa  Tom  ?"  Sam 


170  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

asked,  examining  with  great  disgust  the  rags  the 
boys  had  on. 

"  We  bought  some  peasant's  clothes  about  our 
size,  and  the  first  beggar  boys  we  saw  we  offered  to 
exchange.  You  should  have  seen  their  faces  of  as- 
tonishment. When  we  got  the  clothes  we  made 
them  into  a  bundle,  and  took  them  to  the  bake- 
house, and  got  the  baker  to  put  them  into  the  oven 
for  a  few  hours  to  kill  anything  there  might  be  in 
them.  Now,  Sam,  it  is  time  for  us  to  be  going.  It 
will  take  us  an  hour's  scrubbing  to  get  the  color  off 
us.  Be  sure  you  keep  our  secret." 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  171 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WITH   THE   GUBKRILLAB. 

IT  was  on  a  fine  morning  at  the  end  of  March 
that  a  cortege  of  muleteers  and  mules  left  the  little 
town  of  Alonqua.  It  was  now  four  months  since 
the  Scudamores  left  the  army,  and  in  the  interven- 
ing time  they  had  tramped  through  a  large  portion 
of  Spain.  They  had  carried  with  them  only  a 
dozen  or  so  little  dispatches  done  up  in  tiny  rolls  of 
the  length  and  about  the  thickness  of  a  bodkin. 
These  were  sewn  inside  the  lining  of  their  coats,  in 
the  middle  of  the  cloth  where  it  was  doubled  in  at 
the  seams,  so  that,  even  were  the  clothes  to  be 
examined  carefully  and  felt  all  over,  the  chances  of 
detection  were  slight  indeed.  They  had  each,  on 
starting,  half  a  dozen  pieces  of  Spanish  gold  coin 
sewn  between  the  thicknesses  of  leather  of  the  soles 
of  each  of  their  shoes,  for  they  did  not  start  in  the 
beggar  clothes  in  which  they  had  first  disguised 
themselves.  Their  clothes  were,  indeed,  worn  and 
somewhat  patched,  but  were  of  stout  material,  and 
they  wore  shoes,  but  no  stockings.  They  had,  in- 
deed, the  appearance  of  Spanish  boys  of  the  peasant 
class.  The  weather  in  the  north  of  Spain  is  often 


173  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

very  cold  in  winter,  and  the  boys  felt  that,  with 
rags  and  bare  feet,  they  should  suffer  severely.  All 
that  they  had  to  say  and  do  had  been  learned  by 
heart.  The  names  and  addresses  of  the  agents  of 
the  British  government  at  every  town  had  been 
laboriously  learned  before  starting,  and,  as  Peter 
said  ruefully,  it  was  worse  than  a  dozen  Greek 
impositions. 

At  each  place  of  any  importance  they  would  find 
the  person  to  whom  they  were  instructed  to  apply, 
would  accost  him  with  some  password,  and  would 
be  put  up  by  him  while  they  remained  there. 
When  they  had  gained  the  intelligence  they  re- 
quired— of  the  number  of  French  troops  in  the 
place  and  its  neighborhood,  a  knowledge  always 
obtained  by  going  round,  counting  the  men  on 
parade,  or,  in  the  case  of  small  villages,  finding  out 
easily  enough  from  a  peasant  the  number  quartered 
there,  they  would  write  a  report  on  the  number, 
the  intentions  as  far  as  they  could  learn  them,  the 
amount  of  food  in  store,  and  the  sentiments  of  the 
population,  would  inclose  the  dispatch  in  a  goose- 
quill  and  give  it  to  their  host,  who  was  responsible 
for  forwarding  it. 

In  a  great  number  of  cases,  indeed,  the  man  to 
whom  they  were  accredited  was  a  muleteer.  These 
men  hated  the  French  with  a  hatred  even  more 
deep  and  deadly  than  that  of  other  Spaniards,  for, 
in  addition  to  the  national  causes  of  hatred,  their 
mules  were  constantly  being  requisitioned  or  seized 
by  the  troops,  and  they  themselves  forced  to  accom- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  173 

pany  the  army  for  long  distances  at  a  nominal  rate 
of  pay  for  themselves  and  their  animals.  Then, 
too,  they  were  in  close  connection  with  the  guer- 
rillas, for  whom  they  carried  goods  up  into  the 
mountains  from  the  towns,  and  when  the  chance 
came  would  leave  their  animals  in  the  mountains 
and  join  in  cutting  off  an  enemy's  convoy.  They 
acted  as  messengers  and  spies  too,  and  took  their 
friends  in  the  hills  early  news  of  intended  move- 
ments of  the  enemy.  Many  a  day  had  the  boys 
traveled  in  the  company  of  these  muleteers,  merry, 
careless  fellows,  singing  and  talking  to  their  mules, 
apparently  the  best-natured  of  men,  until  something 
would  be  said  which  would  recall  the  hated  foe,  and 
then  their  black  eyes  would  flash,  their  fingers 
clutch  their  knife-handles,  and  they  would  pour  out 
long  strings  of  deep  Spanish  oaths.  Great  was  the 
surprise  of  these  men  on  receiving  the  password 
from  two  boys,  but  they  never  hesitated  an  instant 
in  taking  them  in,  in  giving  them  hospitality  as 
long  as  they  remained,  and  in  either  accompanying 
them  to  the  next  town,  or  handing  them  over  to 
the  charge  of  some  comrade  going  in  that  direction. 
Not  even  to  them  did  the  Scudamores  ever  betray 
that  they  were  not  what  they  were  taken  to  be, 
two  Spanish  boys  employed  by  the  English  com- 
mander as  messengers.  Often  they  were  ques- 
tioned how  the  English  had  come  to  intrust  impor- 
tant communications  to  two  boys,  and  their  reply 
always  was  that  their  father  and  mother  had  fled 
to  Portugal  from  the  French,  and  were  living  there 


174  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

near  the  English  lines,  and  that  they  had  offered 
their  lives  in  case  of  their  sons'  treachery. 

This  system  of  hostages  seemed  probable  enough 
to  their  questioners,  and  if  the  boys'  fare  was 
rather  harder,  and  their  treatment  more  uncere- 
monious than  it  would  have  been  had  they  said  that 
they  were  British  officers  in  disguise,  they  ran  far 
less  risk  of  detection  from  an  accidental  word  or 
sign.  Indeed  it  would  have  been  next  to  impossible 
for  them,  had  they  desired  it,  to  convince  any  one 
of  their  identity.  There  was  no  fear  now  of  their 
accent  betraying  them.  Since  they  had  left  the 
army  the}'  had  never,  even  when  alone  together, 
spoken  in  English.  They  made  the  rule  and  kept 
to  it  for  two  reasons,  the  one  being  that  they  found 
that  if  they  did  not  get  into  this  habit  of  always 
speaking  Spanish,  they  might  inadvertently  address 
each  other  in  English,  and  thus  betray  themselves ; 
the  second,  that  they  wanted  to  learn  to  speak 
absolutely  like  natives.  This  they  had  in  the  four 
months  thoroughly  learned  to  do.  At  first  their 
pronunciation  and  occasional  mistakes  excited  curi- 
osity when  asked  questions  as  to  the  part  of  Spain 
from  which  they  had  come,  but  their  constant  com- 
munication with  their  muleteer  friends  had  quite 
removed  this,  and  for  the  last  two  months  not  a 
single  person  had  doubted  that  they  were  not  only 
Spanish,  but  that  they  came  from  the  northern 
provinces. 

Hitherto  they  had  journeyed  principally  between 
large  towns  and  over  country  held  by  the  French, 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  175 

but  that  part  of  their  work  was  finished ;  they  had 
accurately  computed  the  number  of  the  army  with 
which  Massena  was  to  advance  shortly  to  besiege 
Ciudad  Kodrigo,  and  they  had  now  to  carry  the  dis- 
patches to  the  guerrilla  leaders.  Hitherto  they  had 
not  in  a  single  instance  excited  suspicion.  Not  a 
Frenchman  had  asked  them  a  question,  and  no 
adventure  of  anything  like  an  exciting  nature  had 
taken  place.  They  .were  now,  however,  entering 
into  a  country  entirely  different  from  that  which 
they  had  hitherto  traversed.  The  northeast  of 
Spain  is  wild  and  mountainous,  and  offers  immense 
natural  facilities  for  irregular  warfare.  Through 
the  various  passes  of  the  Pyrenees  lead  all  the 
roads  from  France,  whether  to  Yittoria  on  the  great 
road  to  Madrid,  or  through  Navarre  to  Catalonia. 
Here  and  there  fortified  towns  still  held  out  against 
the  French,  and  the  town  of  Gerona,  in  Catalonia, 
had  only  fallen  after  a  six  months'  regular  siege, 
and  a  desperate  defense  which  fully  rivals  that  of 
Saragossa. 

It  is  not  a  little  singular  that  the  Span- 
iards, who  in  the  open  field  were,  with  a  few 
remarkable  exceptions,  absolutely  contemptible,  yet 
frequently  defended  towns  with  wonderful  forti- 
tude, courage,  and  desperation.  It  may,  indeed,  be 
said  that  in  every  siege  where  the  Spaniards  were 
commanded  by  brave  and  resolute  chiefs  they  be- 
haved admirably.  This  great  range  of  hill  country 
was  the  stronghold  of  the  guerrillas,  and  every  con- 
voy from  France  had  to  be  protected  by  a  large 


176  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

force,  and  even  then  often  suffered  greatly  from 
the  harassing  attacks  of  their  active  enemies. 

The  bands  of  the  guerrilla  chiefs  differed  greatly 
in  strength,  varying  from  merely  ten  or  a  dozen 
men  to  three  or  four  thousand,  and  indeed  each 
band  varied  continually.  The  men,  when  not 
required,  would  scatter  to  their  homes,  cultivate 
their  little  patches  of  ground,  and  throw  do\vn  the 
spade  and  take  up  the  rifle  again  when  they  heard 
of  a  convoy  to  cut  off,  or  an  invading  column  to 
beat  back.  The  bands,  too,  would  vary  in  propor- 
tion to  the  renown  of  their  chiefs.  An  energetic 
man,  who,  at  the  head  of  a  handful,  had  performed 
some  daring  feats,  would  find  himself  a  week  after- 
ward the  leader  of  many  hundreds,  while  a  chief 
who  was  slow  and  dilatory  would  find  his  band  melt 
away  like  snow  in  summer. 

The  character  of  the  warfare  depended  much 
upon  the  character  of  the  French  generals.  A  few 
of  these  kept  the  troops  under  their  command 
sternly  in  hand,  would  permit  no  plundering,  and 
insisted  upon  their  fair  treatment  of  the  Spaniards. 
These  in  turn  wanted  nothing  better  than  to  remain 
quietly  in  their  homes,  and  the  guerrilla  bands  would 
melt  away  to  nothing.  Other  generals,  furious  at 
the  savage  nature  of  the  warfare,  and  the  incessant 
toil  and  loss  entailed  upon  their  troops,  allowed  the 
latter  to  do  as  they  pleased,  and  burning  houses  and 
dead  bodies  marked  their  course.  Then  the  peas- 
antry, now  turned  guerrillas,  retaliated  as  savagely, 
giving  no  quarter,  sacrificing  all  prisoners,  nn<! 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  177 

putting  the  wounded  to  death,  sometimes  with 
torture.  On  both  sides  horrible  atrocities  were 
committed. 

The  guerrillas  were  armed  partly  with  rifles  and 
carbines,  partly  with  muskets  landed  on  the  coast 
by  the  British  government,  who  also,  from  time  to 
time,  sent  powder  and  money  to  assist  them  to  con- 
tinue their  resistance  to  the  French.  Although 
nowhere  really  formidable,  yet,  being  scattered  over 
a  great  extent  of  country,  these  bands  occupied  very 
large  bodies  of  French  troops,  who  would  otherwise 
have  been  disposable  for  general  operations  in  the 
field.  The  English  commander-in-chief  had,  of 
course,  no  shadow  of  authority  over  the  guerrillas, 
or,  indeed,  over  any  of  the  Spanish  troops,  and  his 
communication  to  them  simply  asked  what  arms 
and  ammunition  they  required,  and  begged  them  to 
send  him  a  list  of  the  number  of  men  they  could 
each  throw  on  the  French  communications  and  lines 
of  retreat  in  case  he  should  find  himself  in  a  position 
to  make  a  general  advance  against  them.  He  also 
recommended  most  strongly  the  bearers  of  the 
dispatch  to  their  care.  It  was  to  the  chief  known 
as  Nunez  that  they  were  now  bound.  The  mule 
train  was  nominally  destined  for  Yittoria,  to  which 
town  the  leader  had  got  a  pass,  specifying  the  num- 
ber of  mules  and  the  nature  of  the  goods  they 
carried,  from  the  French  commandant  at  Alonqua, 
for  no  one  was  allowed  to  take  goods  about  the 
country  without  a  pass,  in  order  to  prevent  supplies 
being  forwarded  to  the  mountains.  This  pass,  how- 


178  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

ever,  only  mentioned  twelve  mules  with  four 
drivers,  and  this  was  the  number  which  started 
from  Alonqua.  Another  score  of  mules,  however, 
joined  them  at  a  short  distance  from  the  town 
where  a  by-road  turned  off.  Some  of  these  had 
gone  out  from  the  town  unloaded,  as  if  taken  out  to 
graze,  others  had  not  entered  the  town,  but  had 
come  direct  from  the  seacoast  by  by-paths  with 
powder,  and  had  been  awaiting  the  departure  of 
Garcias,  the  name  of  the  leader  of  the  party. 
They  had  eight  men  with  them,  all  armed  to  the 
teeth. 

"  Is  it  all  right,  Garcias  ?" 

"  All  right,"  the  leader  said ;  "  they  have  sent  out 
their  squadrons  on  the  other  road,  so  I  think  we  are 
safe  for  to-day." 

"What  boys  have  you  got  there  with  you  ?" 

"They  have  business  with  Nunez;  letter  from 
the  coast." 

The  cavalcade  was  now  in  motion  again,  and 
wound  gradually  up  into  the  hills.  Presently  they 
came  to  a  point  where  four  roads  met.  A  clump 
of  trees  grew  hard  by,  and  the  boys  gave  a  start  of 
horror  at  seeing  the  bodies  of  six  French  soldiers 
swinging  from  them.  "  Ay,  that's  Nunez's  work,  I 
expect,"  Garcias  said  coolly.  "There  were  three 
of  his  men  swinging  there  last  week,  so  as  a  lesson 
he  has  hung  up  six  of  the  French.  He  is  a  rough 
boy  to  play  with  is  Nunez." 

At  sunset  the  party  slept  in  a  small  farm,  and  at 
daybreak  continued  their  journey.  They  were  now 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  179 

in  the  heart  of  the  mountains,  and  their  path  lay 
sometimes  up  deep  ravines,  sometimes  along  rocky 
ledges.  At  last,  about  midday,  they  entered  a 
valley  in  which  stood  a  small  village.  "  That's 
Nunez's  headquarters  to-day,"  Garcias  said  ;  "  to- 
morrow he  may  be  no  one  knows  where." 

"  But  does  he  have  to  sally  out  by  the  wretched 
road  by  which  we  have  come  ?"  Tom  asked. 

"  No,  no,"  Garcias  replied ;  "  he  would  not  catch 
much  prey  that  way.  There  are  three  other  ways 
out  of  the  valley.  That  winding  path  you  see  there 
leads  up  to  Santona.  That  road  on  the  other  side 
leads  out  on  to  the  plain,  and  thence  to  Vittoria ; 
while  the  footpath  over  the  brow  opposite  leads 
right  down  into  the  wide  valley  through  which  the 
main  north  road  runs.  So  you  see  this  is  a  handy 
spot.  From  that  brow  we  can  see  the  convoys  go- 
ing to  and  from  France,  and  can  pour  down  upon 
them  if  they  are  weak ;  while,  if  a  column  is  sent 
in  search  of  us,  we  can  vanish  away  long  before 
they  can  catch  us.  Nunez  does  not  use  the  direct 
road  over  the  brow  for  his  attack,  but  follows  the 
Santona  or  Vittoria  road  for  awhile,  and  then 
makes  a  swoop  round.  He  does  not  want  to  bring 
the  French  up  to  this  village,  for  his  family  and  the 
families  of  many  of  the  men  live  here." 

As  they  approached  the  village  they  found  that 
there  was  a  good  deal  of  bustle  going  on.  Armed 
men  were  coming  out  of  the  cottages,  and  gather, 
ing  in  a  group  round  a  rough  stone  cross,  which 
stood  in  the  center  of  a  sort  of  green.  "  We  are 


160  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

just  in  time,"  Garcias  said ;  "  Nunez  is  starting  on 
some  expedition  or  other." 

When  they  reached  the  spot  there  were  nearly 
two  hundred  men  assembled.  They  greeted  Garcias 
with  shouts  of  welcome  as  he  arrived.  "  Ah,  ha  ! 
Garcias,  just  in  time.  Our  last  skin  of  wine  was 
emptied  last  night ;  we  will  bring  some  more  up  to- 
morrow ;  but  if  you  had  not  come  we  should  have 
had  to  start  thirsty,  and  that's  unlucky  besides  being 
unpleasant." 

"  Where  is  Nunez  ?"  Garcias  asked. 

"  Here  he  comes,"  was  the  reply ;  and  the  boys 
turning  saw  a  figure  approaching,  which  by  no 
means  answered  to  the  expectation  of  the  celebrated 
guerrilla  chief.  He  was  small  and  almost  hump- 
bodied,  but  very  broad.  His  head  seemed  too  large 
for  his  body,  and  a  pair  of  fierce  eyes  gleamed  out 
from  beneath  his  shaggy  eyebrows.  His  mustache 
was  thin  and  bristly,  and  his  mouth  wide,  but  with 
thin  lips.  The  boys  could  understand  the  reputa- 
tion for  cruelty  and  mercilessness  which  attached 
to  this  sinister-looking  figure,  but  there  was  none  of 
the  savage  power  which  they  had  expected  to  see 
in  so  celebrated  a  leader. 

"  Any  news,  Garcias  ?"  he  asked  shortly,  as  he 
came  up. 

"None,  captain,  except  that  these  boys  have 
brought  some  dispatches  for  you  from  the  English 
lord." 

Nunez  looked  sharply  at  them,  and  held  out  his 
hand  without  speaking.  Tom  gave  him  the  little 
quill. 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  181 

The  guerrilla  opened  it,  read  the  contents,  and, 
saying  briefly,  "  An  answer  to-morrow,"  strode  on 
to  his  men,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  were  defiling 
out  at  the  end  of  the  valley. 

"  That  hardly  seems  a  strong  enough  body  to 
attack  a  French  convoy,  Garcias,"  Tom  remarked. 

"  No,  it  would  not  be,  but  there  is  only  a  part  of 
his  band  here ;  the  rest  will  join  him  at  some  place 
agreed  on — perhaps  ten  miles  from  here.  I  believe 
he  has  about  a  thousand  men  under  his  orders. 
Now  come  along ;  we  shall  be  none  the  worse  for 
dinner,"  and,  leaving  his  men  to  unload  the  mules, 
he  led  the  way  into  the  little  posada,  or  inn. 

"  Ah !  Mother  Morena,"  he  said  to  an  old  woman 
who  was  crouching  near  a  blazing  wood  fire,  "  warm- 
ing yourself  as  usual ;  it's  well  you've  a  good  fire, 
for  you  will  be  able  to  get  us  some  dinner  all  the 
more  quickly.  Twelve  of  us  altogether.,  and  all  a* 
hungry  as  wolves." 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  the  old  woman  crossly ;  "  it 
seems  as  if  I  were  never  to  have  an  hour's  quiet, 
just  as  all  that  roaring,  greedy  lot,  with  their 
Mother  Morena  here  and  Mother  Morena  there, 
and  their  grumbling  at  the  olla,  and  their  curses 
and  their  quarrels  are  off,  and  I  think  I  am  going 
to  have  a  quiet  afternoon,  then  you  come  in  with 
your  twelve  hungry  wolves." 

"  Ah !  mother,  but  wolves  don't  pay,  and  we  do, 
you  see." 

The  frugal  supper  over,  the  boys  lay  down  on 
the  benches,  and  were  soon  asleep.  The  next  day 


182  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

passed  slowly,  for  the  band  were  not  expected  to 
return  until  late  at  night — perhaps  not  until  the 
next  morning,  as  the  pass  where  the  attack  would 
be  made  was  some  fifteen  miles  off,  and  the  convoy 
might  not  pass  there  until  late  in  the  afternoon. 
The  boys  soon  made  friends  with  some  of  the 
women  and  children  of  the  place,  to  whom  they 
told  stories  of  the  great  cities  of  the  plain,  and  of 
the  great  water  which  washed  the  shores  of  Spain. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  Spanish  peasantry  are 
incredibly  ignorant,  and  very  few  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  village  had  ever  gone  beyond  the  mountains. 
Walking  about  in  the  village,  but  apparently  mix- 
ing but  very  little  in  the  games  of  the  other  chil- 
dren, were  two  little  girls,  whose  gay  dress  of  rich 
silk  seemed  strangely  out  of  place  in  such  a  spot. 

Tom  asked  one  of  the  women  who  they  were,  and 
she  replied,  with  a  toss  of  the  head,  "  They  are  the 
captain's  children.  The  last  time  the  band  went 
out  they  found  among  the  baggage  and  brought  up 
here  the  dresses  of  the  children  of  some  fine  lady, 
and  the  captain  kept  them  all  as  part  of  his  share, 
just  as  if  there  were  no  children  in  the  village  whom 
it  would  become  a  great  deal  better  than  those 
stuck-up  little  things.  Not,"  she  said,  softening  a 
little,  "  that  they  were  not  nice  enough  before  they 
got  these  things ;  but  since  they  came  their  heads 
have  been  quite  turned  by  the  finery,  and  they  are 
almost  too  grand  to  speak  to  their  old  play -fellows." 

"  Is  their  mother  alive  ?" 

"  No,  poor  thing,  she  was  killed  by  the  French 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  183 

when  the  village  she  lived  in  was  burned  by  them, 
because  some  of  them  were  found  hung  in  the 
neighborhood.  The  captain  was  away  at  the  time, 
and  the  children  were  out  in  the  woods.  When  he 
came  back  he  found  them  crying  by  the  side  of 
their  mother's  body,  in  the  middle  of  the  burning 
village.  So  then  he  took  to  the  mountains,  and  he 
never  spares  a  Frenchman  who  falls  into  his  hands. 
He  has  suffered,  of  course,  but  he  brought  it  upon 
himself,  for  he  had  a  hand  in  hanging  the  French 
soldiers,  and  now  he  is  a  devil.  It  will  be  bad  for 
us  all ;  for  some  day,  when  the  French  are  not  busy 
with  other  things,  they  will  rout  us  out  here,  and 
then  who  can  blame  them  if  they  pay  us  for  all  the 
captain's  deeds  ?  Ah !  me,  they  are  terrible  times, 
and  Father  Pedro  says  he  thinks  the  end  of  the 
world  must  be  very  near.  I  hope  it  will  come 
before  the  French  have  time  to  hunt  us  down." 

The  boys  had  a  hard  struggle  not  to  smile,  but 
the  woman  spoke  so  earnestly  and  seriously  that 
the}7"  could  only  shake  their  heads  in  grave  commis- 
eration for  her  trouble ;  and  then  Tom  asked,  "  Is 
the  captain  very  fond  of  the  children  ?" 

"  He  worships  them,"  the  woman  said ;  "  he  has 
no  heart  and  no  pity  for  others.  He  thinks  no 
more  of  blood  than  I  do  of  water ;  but  he  is  as 
tender  as  a  woman  with  them.  One  of  them  was 
ill  the  other  day — a  mere  nothing,  a  little  fever — 
and  he  sat  by  her  bedside  for  eight  days  without 
ever  lying  down." 

"  I  suppose,"  Tom  said,  "  they  never  bring  prison- 
ers up  here  2" 


184  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Yes,  they  do,"  the  woman  said ;  "  not  common 
soldiers ;  they  kill  them  at  once ;  but  sometimes 
officers,  if  they  want  to  exchange  them  for  some  of 
ours  who  may  have  been  taken,  or  if  they  think 
they  are  likely  to  get  a  high  ransom  for  them.  But 
there,  it  always  comes  to  the  same  thing ;  there, 
where  you  see  that  mound  on  the  hillside,  that's 
where  they  are.  They  blindfold  them  on  their  way 
up  here,  lest  they  might  find  their  way  back  after 
all.  Only  one  or  two  have  ever  gone  down  again. 
I  wish  they  would  finish  with  them  all  down  below  ; 
they  are  devils  and  heretics,  these  French ;  but  I 
don't  care  about  seeing  them  killed.  Many  of  us 
do,  though,  and  we  have  not  many  diversions  up 
here,  so  I  suppose  it's  all  for  the  best." 

"  I  wish  that  fellow  had  given  us  our  answer  be- 
fore he  went  away,""  Tom  said  to  Peter  when  they 
were  alone.  "  I  hope  he  won't  bring  any  prisoners 
up  here  ;  these  massacres  are  frightful,  and  one  side 
seems  as  bad  as  the  other.  "Well,  in  another  month 
we  shall  have  finished  with  all  this  work,  and  be 
making  for  the  frontier  again.  Shan't  I  be  glad 
when  we  catch  sight  of  the  first  redcoats !" 

In  the  middle  of  the  night  the  boys  were  roused 
by  a  general  bustle,  and  found  that  a  messenger 
had  just  arrived,  saying  that  the  expedition  had 
been  successful,  that  a  portion  of  the  enemy  had 
been  cut  off,  their  rearguard  destroyed,  and  that 
the  whole  band  would  be  up  soon  after  davlight. 
The  village  was  astir  early,  but  it  was  not  until 
nine  o'clock  that  the  guerrilla  band  arrived.  The 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  185 

boys  saw  at  a  glance  that  they  were  stronger  in 
numbers  than  when  they  started,  and  that  with 
them  were  some  twenty  or  thirty  baggage  animals. 

The  women  flocked  out  to  meet  them  with  shrill 
cries  of  welcome.  The  booty  taken  was  not  of  any 
great  value  in  money,  but  was  more  valuable  than 
gold  to  the  guerrillas.  Each  one  of  the  band  carried, 
in  addition  to  his  own  piece,  a  new  French  musket, 
while  in  the  barrels  on  the  mules  were  powder  and 
ball ;  there  were  bales  of  cloth,  and  some  cases  of 
brandy  and  champagne,  and  a  few  boxes  and  port- 
manteaus of  officers'  baggage.  In  the  rear  of  all, 
under  a  strong  guard,  were  two  French  officers, 
both  wounded,  a  lady  and  a  child  of  some  seven  or 
eight  years  old. 

After  a  boisterous  greeting  to  their  wives  the 
band  broke  up  and  scattered  over  the  village,  three 
or  four  men  remaining  to  guard  the  captives,  who 
were  told  to  sit  down  against  a  wall. 

The  whole  band  were  soon  engaged  in  feasting, 
but  no  one  paid  the  least  attention  to  the  prisoners. 
The  lady  had  sunk  down  exhausted,  with  the  little 
girl  nestled  close  to  her  ;  the  officers,  faint  and  pale 
from  loss  of  blood,  leaned  against  the  wall.  One  of 
them  asked  the  guards  for  some  water,  but  the  men 
paid  no  attention  to  the  request,  answering  only 
with  a  savage  curse.  Tom  and  Peter,  who  were 
standing  by,  immediately  went  to  the  inn,  filled  a 
jug  with  water,  and  taking  a  drinking  horn  and 
some  bread,  went  back.  One  of  the  guards  angrily 
ordered  them  back  as  they  approached. 


186  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"I  am  not  going  to  free  them,"  Tom  said, 
soothingly ;  "  there  can  be  no  reason  why  they 
should  die  of  thirst,  if  they  are  enemies.'' 

"I  am  thirsty  myself,"  one  of  the  guard  said, 
"  and  it  does  us  good  to  see  them  thirst." 

"What,  has  no  one  brought  you  anything  to 
drink  ?"  Tom  said  in  a  tone  of  surprise.  "  Here, 
Peter,  you  give  this  bread  and  water  to  these 
prisoners ;  I  will  run  to  Mother  Morena's  and  bring 
some  wine  for  the  guard." 

The  guard  would  not  allow  Peter  to  approach 
the  captives  until  Tom  arrived  with  a  large  jug  of 
wine,  and  a  cold  fowl,  which  he  had  obtained  at 
the  inn.  These  the  Spaniards  accepted,  and  allowed 
the  boys  to  give  the  water  to  the  prisoners.  All 
drank  eagerly,  with  every  expression  of  thankful- 
ness, the  lady  seizing  Peter's  hand  and  kissing  it  as 
he  handed  the  horn  to  the  child.  The  lady  was  a 
very  bright,  pretty  woman,  though  now  pale  and 
worn  with  fatigue  and  emotion,  and  the  child  was 
a  lovely  little  creature. 

The  boys,  on  leaving  the  prisoners,  hurried  to 
Garcias.  "  What  are  they  going  to  do  with  the 
prisoners,  Garcias?" 

"  They  have  brought  them  up  here  to  exchange 
for  Nunez's  lieutenant,  who  was  taken  last  week. 
One  of  the  men  went  off  last  night  to  Vittoria  with 
a  letter  to  offer  to  exchange.  One  of  the  officers  is 
a  colonel,  and  the  young  one  a  captain.  The  lady 
is,  they  say,  the  wife  of  General  Reynier." 
t  "  Then  they  are  safe,"  Tom  said  joyfully,  "  for, 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  187 

of  course^  the  French  would  exchange  a  guerrilla 
against  three  such  prisoners." 

"  Yes,"  Garcias  said,  "  they  are  safe  if  Yagas  has 
not  been  shot  before  the  messenger  gets  to  Yittoria. 
The  messenger  will  hear  directly  he  gets  there,  and 
if  they  have  finished  Yagas  he  will  come  straight 
back,  for  his  letter  will  be  of  no  use  then." 

"  But  the  French  would  pay  a  ransom  for  them." 

"  Yes ;  but  the  captain  is  never  fond  of  ransom- 
ing, and  if  the  news  comes  that  Yagas  is  shot  it  is 
all  up  with  them." 

"  But  they  will  never  murder  a  woman  and  child 
in  cold  blood!"  Tom  said,  in  tones  of  indignant 
horror. 

""Women  are  killed  on  both  sides,"  the  muleteer 
said  placidly.  "  I  don't  hold  to  it  myself,  but  I  don't 
know,  after  all,  why  a  woman's  life  is  a  bit  more 
precious  than  a  man's.  Yagas'  wife  and  children 
are  here,  too,  and  if  the  news  comes  of  his  death 
she  would  stir  the  band  up  to  kill  the  prisoners, 
even  if  the  captain  wanted  to  save  them,  which  he 
certainly  will  not  do." 

"  When  is  the  messenger  expected  back  ?" 

"  If  he  goes  to  Yittoria  and  finds  Yagas  is  alive, 
and  arranges  for  the  exchange,  he  won't  be  back 
till  late  to-night,  perhaps  not  till  to-morrow  ;  but 
if  he  hears,  either  on  the  way  or  directly  he  gets 
there,  that  he  is  dead,  he  may  be  back  this  after- 
noon." Soon  after  this  conversation  Garcias  was 
sent  for  to  the  chief,  and  returned  with  a  small 
note,  which  he  handed  to  the  boys  as  the  answer  to 


188  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

the  dispatch,  and  urged  them  to  go  at  once.  The 
boys  said  that  they  could  not  leave  until  they  saw 
the  end  of  this  terrible  drama  which  was  passing 
before  their  eyes.  It  was  early  in  the  afternoon 
when  a  man  was  seen  coming  along  the  path  from 
Yittoria.  A  hundred  eager  eyes  examined  him, 
and  ere  long  it  was  declared  as  certain  that  it  was 
the  messenger.  The  boys'  hearts  sank  within  them 
as  they  saw  the  fierce  looks  cast  by  the  Spaniards 
in  the  direction  of  the  prisoners,  for  every  one  in  the 
village  was  well  aware  of  the  meaning  of  this  early 
return.  The  boys  had  arranged  upon  the  course 
they  would  pursue,  and  they  at  once  hurried  to 
Garcias. 

"  Please  come  with  us  at  once  to  Nunez.  "We 
want  to  see  him  before  the  messenger  arrives." 

"  I  will  come  with  you,"  Garcias  said ;  "  but  if 
you  think  that  any  talking  of  yours  will  persuade 
Nunez  to  move  out  of  his  way,  you  are  mistaken. 
It  is  more  likely  to  cost  you  your  own  lives,  I  can 
tell  you  ;  however,  I  gave  you  the  promise  I  would 
do  my  best  for  you  when  you  started  with  me,  and 
I  will  go  with  you  now,  though  what  you  want  to 
interfere  for  here  is  more  than  I  can  make  out. 
Pshaw !  what  matters  two  or  three  of  these  ac- 
cursed French,  more  or  less  ?" 

As  they  neared  the  chiefs  house  they  saw  him 
coming  toward  them.  His  brow  was  as  black  as 
thunder,  he  was  evidently  prepared  for  the  news  of 
his  lieutenant's  death. 

"  These  messengers  want  to  speak  to  you  for  a 
moment,"  Garcias  said. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  189 

The  chief  stopped  with  an  impatient  gesture. 

"  Senor,"  Tom  said,  with  a  dignity  which  sur- 
prised the  chief ;  "  we  are  not  what  we  seem.  "We 
are  two  English  officers,  and  we  have  come  to  beg 
of  you,  to  implore  you,  not  to  tarnish  the  cause  for 
which  you  fight  by  shedding  the  blood  of  women 
and  children." 

The  boys  had  agreed  that  it  would  be  altogether 
hopeless  to  try  to  save  the  French  officers. 

"  British  officers,  indeed,"  exclaimed  Nunez,  "  a 
likely  story.  Do  you  know  them  as  such,  Garcias?" 

"  No,"  Garcias  said  bluntly,  "  I  never  guessed  at 
it ;  but  now  they  say  so,  I  think  it's  likely  enough, 
for  they  don't  seem  to  see  things  in  the  same  way 
as  other  people." 

"  I  can  give  you  proof  of  it,"  Tom  said  calmly, 
pulling  up  the  sleeve  of  his  coat,  and  showing  a 
cicatrix  in  his  forearm.  Taking  a  knife  from  his 
pocket,  he  cut  into  the  skin,  and  drew  forth  a  tiny 
silver  tube.  This  he  opened,  and  handed  to  Nunez 
a  paper  signed  by  Lord  "Wellington,  declaring  the 
bearers  to  be  British  officers,  and  requesting  all 
loyal  Spaniards  to  give  them  every  assistance. 

The  captain  read  it  through,  and  flung  it  down. 
"You  may  be  officers,"  he  said  contemptuously; 
"  but  if  you  were  Lord  Wellington  himself,  I  would 
not  spare  these  accursed  French.  Listen  !"  and  as 
he  spoke  a  howl  of  rage  ran  from  the  other  end  of 
the  village,  and  told  too  plainly  the  nature  of  the 
tidings  the  messenger  had  brought. 

"  I  again  protest,"  Tom  said  firmly.     "  I  protest, 


190  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

as  a  British  officer,  and  in  the  name  of  humanity, 
against  this  cold-blooded  murder  of  a  woman  and 
child.  It  is  a  disgrace  to  Spain,  a  disgrace  to  the 
cause,  it  is  a  brutal  and  cowardly  act." 

The  guerrilla  furiously  drew  a  pistol ;  but  Garcias 
placed  himself  between  him  and  Tom.  "  I  have 
promised  him  a  safe  conduct,"  he  said,  "  and  have 
given  my  word  for  his  safety.  He  is  only  a  boy, 
and  a  young  fool ;  don't  trouble  with  him." 

Fortunately  at  this  moment,  for  the  guerrilla 
was  still  irresolutely  handling  his  pistol,  a  crowd 
was  seen  coming  toward  them,  headed  by  a  woman 
who  seemed  frantic  with  rage  and  grief.  All  were 
shouting,  "  Death  to  the  assassins !  death  to  the 
French !"  The  chief  at  once  moved  forward  to 
meet  them. 

Tom  and  Peter  gave  a  significant  glance  toward 
each  other,  and  then  Tom  turned  to  go  back  toward 
the  house  which  Nunez  inhabited,  while  Peter 
hurried  toward  the  spot  where  the  prisoners  were 
kept.  Already  a  crowd  was  assembling  who  were 
talking  threateningly  at  the  French  officers.  Peter 
made  his  way  through  them  until  he  stood  by  the 
lady,  who,  with  her  child  clinging  to  her  neck, 
looked  in  terror  at  the  angry  crowd,  whose  atten- 
tion, however,  was  directed  to  the  officers,  who 
stood  looking  calmly  indifferent  to  their  threats  and 
insults. 

"Do  you  speak  Spanish,  madam?"  Peter  asked, 
leaning  over  her. 

She  shook  her  head. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  191 

"  Do  you  speak  English  ?"  he  asked  in  that 
tongue. 

"  Yes,  yes,  a  little,"  the  lady  said  eagerly  ;  "  who 
are  you?  what  is  this  fierce  crowd  about?" 

"Hush!"  Peter  said.  "I  am  a  friend.  Listen. 
In  a  few  minutes  they  are  going  to  shoot  you  all." 
The  lady  gave  a  stifled  cry,  and  pressed  her  child 
close  to  her.  "  Remember,  when  they  come  to  you, 
ask  for  a  priest ;  gain  a  few  minutes,  and  I  hope  to 
save  you  and  the  child." 

So  saying,  he  slipped  away  into  the  crowd  again. 
He  had  scarcely  done  so  when  Nunez  arrived,  ac- 
companied by  many  of  his  men.  The  crowd  fell 
back,  and  he  strode  up  to  the  French  officers. 
"  French  dogs,"  he  said,  "  you  are  to  die.  I  spared 
you  to  exchange,  but  your  compatriots  have  mur- 
dered my  lieutenant,  and  so  now  it's  your  turn. 
You  may  think  yourselves  lucky  that  I  shoot  you, 
instead  of  hanging  you.  Take  them  to  that  wall," 
he  said,  pointing  to  one  some  twenty  yards  off. 

The  Frenchmen  understood  enough  Spanish  to 
known  that  their  fate  was  sealed.  Without  a  word 
they  took  each  other's  hands,  and  marched  proudly 
to  the  spot  pointed  out.  Here,  turning  round,  they 
looked  with  calm  courage  at  the  Spaniards,  who 
formed  up  with  leveled  muskets  at  a  few  paces  dis- 
tance. "  Vive  la  France  !  Tires,"  said  the  elder,  in 
a  firm  voice,  and  in  a  moment  they  fell  back  dead, 
pierced  with  a  dozen  balls. 

Peter  had  turned  away  when  Nunez  appeared  on 
the  scene,  to  avoid  seeing  the  murder,  and  with  his 


192  THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

eyes  fixed  in  the  direction  in  which  Tom  had  gone, 
he  listened  almost  breathlessly  to  what  should 
come.  The  French  lady  had  sat  immovable,  cow- 
ering over  her  child,  while  her  countrymen  were 
taken  away  and  murdered.  As  Nunez  passed  where 
she  crouched,  he  said  to  two  of  his  men,  "  Put  your 
muskets  to  their  heads,  and  finish  them !"  As  the 
men  approached,  she  lifted  up  her  face,  pale  as 
death,  and  said : 

"  Unpretre,  uno  padre  /" 

"She  wants  a  priest,"  the  men  said,  drawing 
back ;  "  she  has  a  right  to  absolution." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  assent  from  those  around, 
and  two  or  three  started  to  the  priest's  house, 
situated  only  a  few  yards  away,  being  one  of  the 
end  houses  of  the  village.  The  priest  soon  appeared, 
came  up  to  the  spot,  and  received  orders  to  shrive 
the  Frenchwoman.  He  attempted  a  remonstrance, 
but  was  silenced  by  a  threat  from  Nunez,  and  know- 
ing from  experience  of  such  scenes  that  his  influence 
went  for  nothing  with  Nunez  and  his  fierce  band, 
he  bent  over  her,  and  the  crowd  drew  back,  to  let 
them  speak  unheard.  At  this  moment,  to  Peter's 
intense  relief,  he  saw  Tom  approaching  with  the 
captain's  two  children  walking  beside  him.  Ab- 
sorbed in  what  was  passing  before  them,  no  one 
else  looked  round,  and  Peter  slipped  away  and 
joined  his  brother.  They  came  within  twenty 
yards  of  the  crowd,  and  then  paused. 

"Wait  a  minute,"  Torn  said  to  the  children, 
"your  father  is  busy." 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  193 

In  another  minute  Nunez  shouted  roughly, 
"  There,  that  will  do;  finish  with  it  and  have  done! 
I  want  to  be  off  to  my  dinner." 

Torn  and  Peter  simultaneously  drew  out  a  large 
Spanish  knife,  and  each  took  one  of  the  children 
firmly  by  the  shoulder. 

"  Stop  !  Senor  Nunez  !"  Tom  shouted  in  a  loud, 
clear  tone.  "  Stop  !  or  by  heaven  there  will  be 
four  victims  instead  of  two  !  Let  one  of  you  lift  a 
finger  against  these  captives — let  one  of  you  come 
one  step  nearer  to  us — and,  by  the  Holy  Virgin,  we 
will  drive  our  knives  into  these  children's  hearts  !" 

A  cry  of  astonishment  broke  from  the  crowd,  and 
one  of  agony  and  rage  from  Nunez,  who  tottered 
against  a  wall  in  horror  at  the  danger  in  which  his 
daughters  were  placed. 

"  Listen  !  all  of  you,"  Tom  said ;  "  we  are  English 
officers ;  we  have  shown  our  papers  to  Nunez,  and 
he  knows  it  is  so.  We  will  not  suffer  this  murder 
of  a  mother  and  her  child.  If  they  are  to  die,  we 
will  die  with  them  ;  but  these  two  children  shall 
die  too !  Now,  what  is  it  to  be  ?" 

A  dozen  of  the  guerrillas  leveled  their  guns  at 
the  two  daring  boys. 

"  No  !  no  !"  Nunez  shrieked  ;  "lower  your  guns. 
Don't  hurt  the  children,  senors.  The  captives  shall 
not  be  hurt ;  I  swear  it !  They  shall  go  free.  Give 
me  my  children." 

"  Not  if  I  know  it,"  Tom  said  ;  "  do  you  think  I 
could  trust  the  word  of  a  man  who  would  murder 
women  and  children  in  cold  blood?  No;  these 


194  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

shall  go  with  us  as  hostages,  till  we  are  safe  under 
French  guard." 

"  They  will  tell  them  the  way  up  here,"  said  one 
of  the  women  in  the  group,  "  and  then  we  shall  be 
all  killed." 

"  No,"  Tom  said ;  "  the  lady  shall  swear  not  to 
tell  the  way  up  here.  She  shall  swear  on  your 
priest's  crucifix.  We  will  give  you  our  words  as 
British  officers." 

"But  how  are  the  children  to  get  back  here 
again  ?"  another  asked,  for  Nunez  was  so  paralyzed 
that  he  could  only  gaze  on  the  children,  who  were 
crying  bitterly,  and  implore  them  to  stand  quiet, 
and  not  try  to  get  away.  After  some  more  parley- 
ing the  arrangements  were  completed.  The  crowd 
fell  back  on  either  side,  so  as  to  leave  a  large  space 
round  the  French  lady.  Tom  and  Peter  then  went 
up  to  them  with  the  little  girls.  The  lady  was  sob- 
bing with  joy  and  excitement  at  this  unexpected 
relief. 

"  Can  you  walk  ?"  Tom  asked  her  in  English. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  getting  up  hastily,  but  almost 
falling  again. 

"  Garcias  will  go  first  as  guide.  The  priest  will 
give  you  his  arm,"  Tom  went  on,  "  these  two  young 
women  will  go  with  you  and  carry  your  child  if 
necessary.  You  will  walk  on,  twenty  yards  ahead 
of  us.  We  follow  with  these  girls.  No  one  is  to 
follow  us,  or  accompany  us.  We  are  to  go  on  like 
that  till  we  come  upon  your  outposts,  and  then  the 
priest  and  the  two  women  will  bring  back  Nunez's 
children." 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  195 

"You  will  send  them  safe  back,  you  swear?" 
asked  Nunez,  in  tremulous  tones. 

"  Pshaw  !"  Tom  said  contemptuously,  "you  don't 
suppose  we  are  child-murderers,  like  yourself." 

"  Remember !"  the  guerrilla  said,  in  a  sudden 
burst  of  passion,  "  if  you  ever  cross  my  path  again, 
I  will— 

"  Do  terrible  things,  no  doubt,"  Tom  said  scorn- 
fully ;  "  and  do  you  beware,  too.  It  is  wild  beasts 
like  yourself  who  have  brought  disgrace  and  ruin 
on  Spain.  No  defeat  could  dishonor  and  disgrace 
her  as  much  as  your  fiendish  cruelty.  It  is  in  re- 
venge for  the  deeds  that  you  and  those  like  you  do, 
that  the  French  carry  the  sword  and  fire  to  your 
villages.  We  may  drive  the  French  out,  but  never 
will  a  country  which  fights  by  murder  and  treach- 
ery become  a  great  nation.  Are  you  ready,  Garcias  ?" 

"  I  am  ready,"  the  muleteer  said,  stepping  for- 
ward from  the  silent  and  scowling  throng. 

"  We  can  trust  you,"  Tom  said  heartily  ;  "  take 
us  the  short  way  straight  down  into  the  valley ;  we 
may  have  the  luck  to  come  upon  a  passing  French 
troop  in  an  hour.  Think  of  that,  madam,"  he  said 
to  the  French  lady,  "  let  that  give  you  strength  and 
courage." 

So  saying,  the  procession  set  out  in  the  order 
Tom  had  indicated,  amid  the  curses  of  the  guer- 
rillas, who  were  furious  at  seeing  themselves  thus 
bearded.  At  the  brow  of  the  hill  Tom  looked  back, 
and  saw  that  the  guerrillas  were  still  standing  in  a 
group,  in  front  of  which  he  could  distinguish  the 


196  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

figure  of  Nunez.  Taking  off  his  hat,  he  waved  an 
ironical  farewell,  and  then  followed  the  party  down 
the  hillside  into  the  broad  valley  below.  They 
could  see  the  road  stretching  like  a  thread  along  it, 
but,  to  their  disappointment,  not  a  figure  was  visi- 
ble upon  it.  Now  that  there  was  no  longer  danger 
of  treachery,  the  party  closed  up  together. 

"  How  far  is  it  to  Vittoria,  Garcias  ?" 

"  Twenty  good  miles,  senor." 

"  But  we  shall  never  get  there,"  Tom  said  in  dis- 
may. "  I  am  sure  the  lady  could  not  walk  another 
five  miles  ;  she  is  quite  exhausted  now." 

"  You  will  not  have  to  go  five  miles,  senor. 
There  is  a  body  of  four  or  five  hundred  French  in 
that  large  village  you  see  there ;  it  is  not  more 
than  three  miles  at  most." 

It  was  a  weary  journey,  for  the  French  lady, 
exhausted  by  fatigue  and  excitement,  was  often 
obliged  to  stop  and  sit  clown  to  rest,  and,  indeed, 
could  not  have  got  on  at  all  had  not  Garcias  on  one 
side  and  the  padre  on  the  other  helped  her  on.  At 
last,  just  as  the  sun  was  setting,  they  approached 
the  village,  and  could  see  the  French  sentries  at  its 
entrance.  When  within  a  hundred  yards  they 
paused. 

"  We  are  safe  now,"  Tom  said  ;  "  it  is  not  neces- 
sary for  you  to  go  further.  Good-by,  little  ones ;  I 
am  sorry  we  have  given  you  such  a  fright,  but  it 
was  not  our  fault.  Good-by,  padre ;  I  know  that 
you  will  not  grudge  your  walk,  for  the  sake  of  its 
saving  the  lives  of  these  unfortunates.  Good-by, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  19? 

Garcias  ;  thanks  for  your  kindness  and  fidelity.  I 
will  report  them  when  I  return,  and  will,  if  I  get  a 
chance,  send  you  a  remembrance  of  our  journey 
together." 

"  Good-by,  senors,"  Garcias  said,  shaking  them 
by  the  hand ;  "  you  English  are  different  to  us,  and 
I  am  not  surprised  now  at  your  general  holding 
Portugal  against  all  the  French  armies."  Then  he 
lowered  his  voice,  so  that  the  Spanish  women 
standing  by  could  not  hear  him,  "  Be  on  your  guard, 
sefiors ;  don't  move  on  from  the  village  without  a 
strong  convoy  is  going  on  ;  change  your  disguise,  if 
possible  ;  distrust  every  one  you  come  across,  and, 
in  heaven's  name,  get  back  to  yoiir  lines  as  soon  as 
possible,  for  you  may  be  assured  that  your  steps  will 
be  dogged,  and  that  you  will  be  safe  nowhere  in 
Spain  from  Nunez's  vengeance.  The  guerrillas 
communicate  with  each  other,  and  you  are  doomed 
if  you  fall  into  the  hands  of  any,  except,  perhaps, 
one  or  two  of  the  greater  chiefs.  Be  always  on 
your  guard ;  sleep  with  your  eyes  open.  Remem- 
ber, except  in  the  middle  of  a  French  regiment, 
you  will  never  be  really  safe." 

"  Thanks,  Garcias  !"  the  boys  said  earnestly,  "  we 
will  do  our  best  to  keep  our  throats  safe.  At  any 
rate,  if  we  go  down,  it  shall  not  be  for  want  of 
watchfulness !" 

Another  shake  of  the  hands,  and  the  party  sepa- 
rated. The  Spanish  woman  who  was  carrying  the 
sleeping  French  child  handed  her  over  to  Tom,  who 
took  her  without  waking  her,  while  Peter  lent  his 
arm  to  the  French  lady. 


198  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Madam,"  Tom  said  in  English,  "  you  will  soon 
be  among  your  friends.  I  know  that  you  will  keep 
your  promise  not  to  divulge  the  situation  of  the 
village  you  have  left.  I  must  ask  you,  also,  to 
promise  me  not  to  say  that  we  speak  English,  or  to 
say  anything  which  may  create  a  suspicion  that  we 
are  not  what  we  seem.  You  will,  of  course,  relate 
your  adventures,  and  speak  of  us  merely  as  Spanish 
boys,  who  acted  as  they  did  being  moved  by  pity 
for  you.  "We  must  accompany  you  for  some  time, 
for  Nunez  will  move  heaven  and  earth  to  get  us 
assassinated,  and  all  we  want  is  that  you  shall 
obtain  permission  for  us  to  sleep  in  the  guardroom, 
so  as  to  be  under  shelter  of  French  bayonets  until 
we  can  decide  upon  our  course  of  action." 

The  lady  assented  with  a  gesture,  for  she  was  too 
exhausted  to  speak,  and  as  they  reached  the  French 
sentries  she  tottered  and  sank  down  on  the  ground 
insensible. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  199 


CHAPTER    X. 

MADRID. 

THE  French  sentries,  who  had  been  watching  with 
surprise  the  slow  approach  of  two  peasant  boys,  the 
one  carrying  a  child,  the  other  assisting  a  woman 
clad  in  handsome  but  torn  and  disheveled  clothes, 
on  seeing  the  latter  fall,  called  to  their  comrades, 
and  a  sergeant  and  some  soldiers  came  out  from  a 
guardroom  close  by. 

"  Hullo !"  said  the  sergeant.  "  What's  all  this  ? 
Who  is  this  woman  ?  And  where  do  you  come 
from  ?" 

The  boys  shook  their  heads. 

"  Of  course,"  the  sergeant  said,  lifting  the  lady, 
"  they  don't  understand  French ;  how  should  they  ? 
She  looks  a  lady,  poor  thing.  Who  can  she  be,  I 
wonder  ?" 

"  General  Reynier,"  Tom  said,  touching  her. 

"General  Reynier?"  exclaimed  the  sergeant  to 
his  comrades. 

"  It  must  be  the  general's  wife.  I  heard  she  was 
among  those  killed  or  carried  off  from  that  convoy 
that  came  through  last  night.  Jacques,  fetch  out 


200  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Captain  Thibault,  and  you,  Noel,  run  for  Dr. 
Pasques." 

The  officer  on  guard  came  out,  and,  upon  hearing 
the  sergeant's  report,  had  Madame  Keynier  at  once 
carried  into  a  house  hard  by,  and  sent  a  message  to 
the  colonel  of  the  regiment.  The  little  girl,  still 
asleep,  was  also  carried  in  and  laid  down,  and  the 
regimental  doctor  and  the  colonel  soon  arrived. 
The  former  went  into  the  house,  the  latter  en- 
deavored in  vain  to  question  the  boys  in  French. 
Finding  it  useless,  he  walked  up  and  down  impa- 
tiently until  a  message  came  down  from  the  doctor 
that  the  lady  had  recovered  from  her  fainting  fit, 
and  wished  to  see  him  at  once. 

Tom  and  Peter,  finding  that  no  one  paid  any 
attention  to  them,  sat  quietly  down  by  the  guard- 
house. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  French  colonel  came  down. 
"Where  are  those  boys?"  he  exclaimed  hastily. 
There  was  quite  a  crowd  of  soldiers  round  the 
house,  for  the  news  of  the  return  of  General  Rey- 
nier's  wife  and  child  had  circulated  rapidly  and 
created  quite  an  excitement.  "  Where  are  those 
boys  ?"  he  shouted  again. 

The  sergeant  of  the  guard  came  forward. 

"  I  had  no  orders  to  keep  them  prisoners,  sir,"  he 
said  in  an  apologetic  tone,  for  he  had  not  noticed 
the  boys,  and  thought  that  he  was  going  to  get  into 
a  scrape  for  not  detaining  them  ;  but  he  was  inter- 
rupted by  one  of  the  soldiers  who  had  heard  the 
question,  bringing  them  forward. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  201 

To  the  astonishment  of  the  soldiers,  the  colonel 
rushed  forward,  and,  with  a  Frenchman's  enthusi- 
asm, actually  kissed  them.  "  Mes  braves  gardens  /" 
he  exclaimed.  "Mes  braves  gargons  !  Look  you, 
all  of  you,"  he  exclaimed  to  the  soldiers,  "  you  see 
these  boys,  they  are  heroes,  they  have  saved,  at  the 
risk  of  their  own  lives,  mark  you,  General  Reynier's 
•wife  and  daughter ;  they  have  braved  the  fury  of 
that  accursed  Nunez  and  his  band,  and  have  brought 
them  out  from  that  den  of  wolves !"  And  then,  in 
excited  tones,  he  described  the  scene  as  he  had 
heard  it  from  Madame  Reynier. 

At  this  relation  the  enthusiasm  of  the  French 
soldiers  broke  out  in  a  chorus  of  cheers  and  excited 
exclamations.  The  men  crowded  round  the  boys, 
shook  them  by  the  hand,  patted  them  on  the  back, 
and  in  a  hundred  strange  oaths  vowed  an  eternal 
friendship  for  them. 

After  a  minute  or  two  the  colonel  raised  his 
hand  for  silence.  "  Look  you,"  he  said  to  the  men. 
"  You  can  imagine  that,  after  what  these  boys  have 
done,  their  life  is  not  safe  for  a  moment.  This 
accursed  Nunez  will  dog  them  and  have  them  as- 
sassinated if  he  can.  So  I  leave  them  to  you  ;  you 
•will  take  care  of  them,  my  children,  will  you  not  ?" 

A  chorus  of  assurances  was  the  reply,  and  the 
boys  found  themselves  as  it  were  adopted  into  the 
regiment.  The  soldiers  could  not  do  enough  for 
them,  but  as  neither  party  understood  the  other's 
language  the  intercourse  did  not  make  much  prog- 
ress. They  had,  however,  real  difficulty  in  refus- 


202  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

ing  the  innumerable  offers  of  a  glass  of  wine  or 
brandy  made  to  them  by  every  group  of  soldiers  as 
they  mo\red  about  through  the  village. 

The  boys  felt  that  their  position  was  a  false 
one;  and  although,  in  point  of  fact,  they  had 
no  report  to  make  upon  the  regiment,  still  the 
possibility  that  if  discovered  they  might  be  thought 
to  have  been  acting  as  spies  on  men  who  treated 
them  with  so  much  friendliness  was  repugnant  to 
them.  However,  their  stay  was  not  to  be  prolonged, 
for  the  regiment  had  already  been  stationed  for  a 
month  at  the  village,  and  was  to  be  relieved  by 
another  expected  hourly  from  France,  and  was  then 
to  go  on  to  Madrid.  This  they  learned  from  one  of 
the  soldiers  who  could  speak  a  few  words  of  Spanish. 

It  was  upon  the  third  day  after  their  arrival  that 
the  expected  regiment  came  in,  and  next  morning 
the  boys  started  soon  after  daybreak  with  their 
friends.  They  had  not  seen  Madame  Reynier  dur- 
ing their  stay  in  the  village,  for  she  was  laid  up 
with  a  sharp  attack  of  illness  after  the  excitement 
she  had  gone  through.  She  was  still  far  from  fit 
to  travel,  but  she  insisted  on  going  on,  and  a 
quantity  of  straw  was  accordingly  laid  in  a  cart, 
pillows  and  cushions  were  heaped  on  this,  and  an 
awning  was  arranged  above  to  keep  off  the  sun. 
The  regiment  had  taken  on  the  transport  animals 
which  had  come  in  with  the  baggage  of  the  troops 
the  night  before  ;  hence  the  mule-drivers  and  other 
followers  were  all  strangers.  The  boys  were  march- 
ing beside  the  regiment,  talking  with  one  of  the 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  203 

sergeants  who  had  been  previously  for  two  years  in 
Spain,  and  spoke  a  little  Spanish,  when  the  colonel, 
who  had  been  riding  alongside  Madame  Reynier, 
told  them  as  he  passed  on  to  the  head  of  the  regi- 
ment, that  she  wished  to  speak  to  them. 

The  boys  fell  out,  and  allowed  the  troops  and  the 
line  of  baggage-animals  and  carts  to  pass  them.  As 
the  latter  came  along  Tom  observed  one  of  the 
Spanish  drivers  glance  in  their  direction  and  imme- 
diately avert  his  head. 

"  Peter,  that  fellow  is  one  of  Nunez's  band  ;  I 
will  almost  swear  to  his  face.  No  doubt  he  has 
joined  the  convoy  for  the  purpose  of  stabbing  us  on 
the  first  opportunity.  I  expected  this.  We  must 
get  rid  of  them  at  once." 

The  boys  had  both  been  furnished  with  heavy 
cavalry  pistols  by  order  of  the  colonel,  to  defend 
themselves  against  any  sudden  attack,  and,  placing 
his  hand  on  the  butt  in  readiness  for  instant  use, 
Tom,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  walked  up  to  the 
Spaniard. 

"  You  and  those  with  you  are  known,"  he  said. 
"  Unless  you  all  fall  out  at  the  next  village  we  come 
to  I  will  denounce  you,  and  you  haven't  five  minutes 
to  live  after  I  do  so.  Mind,  if  one  goes  on  you  all 
suffer." 

The  Spaniard  uttered  a  deep  execration,  and  put 
his  hand  on  his  knife,  but  seeing  that  the  boys  were 
in  readiness,  and  that  the  French  baggage-guard 
marching  alongside  would  certainly  shoot  him  before 
he  could  escape,  he  relinquished  his  design. 


204  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Mind,"  Tom  said,  "  the  first  village ;  it  is  only  a 
mile  ahead,  and  we  shall  probably  halt  there  for  five 
minutes ;  if  one  of  you  goes  a  single  foot  beyond  it 
you  will  swing  in  a  row." 

So  saying,  the  boys  dropped  behind  again  until 
Madame  Reynier's  cart  came  along.  The  sides  were 
open,  and  the  lady,  who  was  sitting  up,  supported 
by  pillows,  with  her  child  beside  her,  saw  them,  and 
called  to  them  to  climb  up  to  her.  They  did  so  at 
once,  and  she  then  poured  forth  her  thanks  in  tones 
of  the  deepest  gratitude. 

"My  husband  is  not  at  Madrid,"  she  said  when 
she  saw  by  the  boys'  confusion  that  they  would  be 
really  glad  if  she  would  say  no  more ;  "  but  when 
he  hears  of  it  he  will  thank  you  for  saving  his  wife 
and  child.  Of  course,"  she  went  on,  "  I  can  see 
that  you  are  not  what  you  seem.  Spanish  boys 
would  not  have  acted  so.  Spanish  boys  do  not 
speak  English.  That  makes  it  impossible  for  me 
in  any  way  to  endeavor  to  repay  my  obligation. 
Had  you  been  even  Spanish  peasants  the  matter 
would  have  been  comparatively  easy ;  then  my  hus- 
band could  have  made  you  rich  and  comfortable  for 
life ;  as  it  is " 

She  paused,  evidently  hoping  that  they  would 
indicate  some  way  in  which  she  could  serve  them. 

"As  it  is,  madam,"  Tom  said,  "you  can,  if  you 
will,  be  of  great  service  to  us  by  procuring  for  us 
fresh  disguises  in  Madrid,  for  I  fear  that  after  what 
happened  with  Nunez  our  lives  will  not  be  safe  from 
his  vengeance  anywhere  in  Spain.  Already  we 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  205 

have  discovered  that  some  of  his  band  are  accompa- 
nying this  convoy  with  the  intention  of  killing  us  at 
the  first  opportunity." 

"  "Why  do  you  not  denounce  them  instantly  ?" 
Madame  Reynier  said,  rising  in  her  excitement  and 
looking  round. 

"  We  cannot  well  do  that,"  Tom  said,  "  at  least 
not  if  it  can  be  avoided.  They  know  already  that 
we  have  recognized  them,  and  will  leave  at  the  next 
village ;  so  we  are  safe  at  present,  but  in  Madrid 
we  shall  be  no  longer  so.  We  cannot  remain  per- 
manently under  the  guard  of  the  bayonets  of  the 
Sixty-third  Line ;  and  indeed  our  position  is,  as  you 
may  guess,  a  false  and  unpleasant  one,  from  which 
we  would  free  ourselves  at  the  first  opportunity. 
We  shall  therefore  ask  you,  when  you  get  to 
Madrid,  to  provide  us  with  fresh  disguises  and  a  pass 
to  travel  west  as  far  as  the  limits  of  the  French 
lines." 

"  You  can  consider  that  as  done,"  Madame  Rey- 
nier answered ;  "  I  only  regret  that  it  is  so  slight  a 
return.  And  now,"  she  said  lightly,  to  change  the 
conversation,  "  I  must  introduce  you  to  this  young 
lady.  "  Julie,"  she  asked  in  French,  "  do  you 
remember  these  boys?" 

"  Yes,"  Julie  said  ;  "  these  are  the  boys  who  gave 
mamma  and  Julie  water  when  those  wicked  men 
would  not  give  us  anything  to  drink  when  we  were 
thirsty ;  and  it  was  these  boys  that  mamma  said 
prevented  the  wicked  men  from  killing  us.  They 
are  good  boys,  nice  boys,  but  they  are  very  ragged 
and  dirty." 


206  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Madame  Keynier  smiled,  and  translated  Julie's 
answer. 

"You  know,"  she  went  on  hesitatingly,  "that  I 
know  that — that  you  are  English  officers.  I  heard 
you  say  so  when  you  saved  us.  But  how  is  it  that 
you  can  be  officers  so  very  young?" 

Tom  explained  that  in  England  the  officers  en- 
tered for  the  most  part  directly,  and  not,  as  in  the 
French  army,  by  promotion  from  the  ranks,  and 
that,  consequently,  the  junior  officers  were  much 
younger  than  those  of  equal  rank  in  the  French 
service. 

The  convoy  had  now  reached  the  village,  and  a 
halt  was  ordered,  and  the  boys  alighting  walked 
forward  to  see  that  their  unwelcome  attendants 
quitted  them.  As  the  soldiers  fell  out  from  their 
order  of  march  and  sat  down  under  the  shade  of 
the  houses  many  of  the  Spaniards  with  the  baggage- 
train  followed  their  example,  and  the  boys  saw  the 
man  to  whom  they  had  spoken  go  up  to  four  others, 
and  in  a  short  time  these  separated  themselves  from 
the  rest,  went  carelessly  round  a  corner,  and  when 
the  order  came  to  continue  the  march  failed  to  make 
their  appearance.  Their  absence  passed  unnoticed 
save  by  the  boys,  for  the  natives  frequently  took 
advantage  of  the  passage  of  troops  and  convoys  .to 
travel  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  another,  for 
the  guerrillas  were  for  the  most  part  little  better 
than  brigands,  and  would  plunder  their  own  coun- 
trymen without  scruple  whenever  the  opportunity 
was  favorable. 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  20? 

The  march  to  Madrid  was  accomplished  without 
adventure,  and  the  boys  improved  the  occasion  by 
endeavoring  to  pick  up  as  many  French  phrases  as 
they  could,  as  they  marched  along  by  the  side  of 
the  sergeant  who  had  specially  taken  them  under 
his  charge.  He  knew  a  little  Spanish,  so  they  man- 
aged to  keep  up  a  conversation  with  him  in  a  strange 
medley  of  the  two  languages,  which  helped  to  pass 
the  time  away  merrily.  At  Madrid  they  took  up 
their  quarters  in  the  barracks  with  the  regiment ; 
they  had  already  explained  their  plan  of  disguise  to 
Madame  Reynier,  and  she  had  promised  to  provide 
all  that  was  necessary  and  to  obtain  the  military 
pass  for  them. 

They  had  soon  reason  to  congratulate  themselves 
that  their  stay  in  Madrid  was  under  the  protection 
of  French  bayonets.  During  the  day  after  their 
arrival  they  remained  quietly  in  barracks,  as  the 
appearance  of  two  Spanish  peasants  walking  about 
the  street  \vith  French  soldiers  would  have  excited 
comments.  In  the  evening,  however,  they  agreed 
with  their  friend  the  sergeant,  who  was  going  into 
the  town  with  three  or  four  of  his  comrades,  that 
they  should  accompany  them,  not,  however,  walking 
actually  with  them,  but  following  a  few  paces  be- 
hind, so  as  to  be  within  reach  of  their  assistance 
should  any  one  molest  them. 

They  reached  the  Piazza  del  Sol,  the  great  central 
square  of  Madrid,  without  incident,  and  amused 
themselves  with  the  sight  of  the  constant  stream  of 
people  passing  to  and  fro,  the  ladies  in  their  grace- 


208  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

ful  black  mantillas,  the  men  in  cloaks  and  Spanish 
sombreros,  or  round  felt  hats.  Presently  the  ser- 
geant and  his  companions  left  the  square,  and 
turning  down  one  of  the  narrow  streets  which  run 
into  it,  amused  themselves  by  looking  into  the  shops, 
with  their  gay  fans,  bright  handkerchiefs,  and  other 
articles  of  Spanish  manufacture. 

Tom  and  Peter  followed  their  example,  keeping 
some  ten  paces  behind  them.  It  was  now  nearly 
dark,  and  the  streets  were  but  badly  lighted  except 
by  the  lamps  in  the  shop  windows. 

"  It  may  be  all  fancy,  Tom,"  Peter  said,  "  but  I 
can't  help  thinking  that  we  are  followed.  There 
are  three  fellows  who  have  passed  us  twice,  and  I 
am  pretty  sure  they  are  particularly  noticing  us. 
Keep  your  hand  on  your  pistol." 

As  the  boys  paused  at  another  shop  window  the 
three  men  again  approached,  this  time  from  ahead. 

"  Look  out,  Tom,"  Peter  said  sharply. 

As  the  men  came  up  to  them  one  of  them  ex- 
claimed, "  Now !" 

The  boys  faced  round,  pistol  in  hand,  with  a  cry 
to  their  friends,  just  as  the  three  Spaniards,  with 
drawn  knives,  were  upon  them. 

The  sudden  movement  disconcerted  them,  and 
two  sprang  back  from  the  leveled  tubes  of  the 
pistols;  with  fierce  oaths  of  surprise,  the  third, 
however,  rushed  in  and  struck  at  Tom  ;  the  latter 
instinctively  moved  aside,  and  the  knife  inflicted  a 
heavy  gash  on  the  shoulder,  and  almost  at  the  same 
moment  Peter's  bullet  crashed  through  the  fellow's 
skull. 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  209 

His  comrades,  with  a  cry  of  rage,  rushed  in,  but 
before  they  could  strike  the  sergeant  was  up,  and 
ran  one  through  the  body  with  his  sword,  whereon 
the  other  fled.  The  whole  affair  lasted  only  three 
or  four  seconds.  In  less  than  a  minute  the  street 
was  absolutely  deserted,  for  rows  and  fights  were 
so  common  between  the  soldiers  and  the  people  that 
all  prudent  people  got  out  of  the  way  the  moment 
a  knife  was  drawn. 

"  "Well  done,  lad,'1  the  sergeant  said  to  Peter,  "  I 
thought  your  brother  was  done  for.  Luckily  I  had 
faced  your  way  when  the  fellow  attacked  you,  and 
was  on  my  way  to  help  you  before  they  began,  but 
I  feared  I  should  be  too  late.  That  was  a  wonder- 
fully pretty  snap  shot  of  yours,  and  you  were  as 
cool  as  old  hands.  Peste  !  I  don't  know  what  to 
make  of  you  boys.  Now  come  along ;  we  had  better 
get  away  from  this  carrion  before  any  one  comes  up 
and  asks  questions.  First,  though,  let  me  tie  up 
your  shoulder." 

This  was  soon  done,  and  while  the  sergeant  was  en- 
gaged upon  it  his  comrades,  old  soldiers,  turned  over 
the  dead  Spaniards,  searched  their  pockets,  and 
chuckled  as  they  found  several  gold  pieces. 

One  or  two  French  soldiers  alone  came  near  them 
before  they  left  the  spot,  attracted  by  the  sound  of 
the  pistol.  A  word  from  the  sergeant,  "These 
scoundrels  attacked  us ;  they  have  got  their  coup" 
satisfied  them,  and  the  boys  and  their  friends  soon 
regained  the  crowded  main  street,  leaving  the  bodies 
for  the  watch  to  find  and  bury. 


210  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Arrived  at  the  barracks,  Tom's  arm  was  examined 
by  the  surgeon,  and  the  cut  pronounced  a  deep  flesh 
wound,  but  of  no  consequence ;  it  was  soon  strapped 
up,  and  with  his  arm  in  a  sling  Tom  went  down  to 
the  sergeant's  quarters,  where  they  slept.  Here 
they  had  to  go  through  much  patting  on  the  back, 
for  their  friend  had  described  the  readiness  and 
coolness  with  which  they  stood  at  bay,  and  pop- 
ular as  they  were  before  they  were  now  more  so 
than  ever.  For  the  rest  of  their  stay  in  Madrid  the 
boys  did  not  stir  out  of  barracks.  One  at  least  of 
Nunez's  envoys  they  knew  to  be  alive,  and  he  could 
enlist  any  number  of  the  lower  class  against  them, 
so  they  resolved  not  to  go  out  until  they  should  finally 
start. 

After  a  fortnight's  stay  they  were  sent  for  to  the 
colonel's  quarters,  where  they  found  Madame  Rey- 
nier  and  her  child.  "  I  had  a  letter  from  my  hus- 
band this  morning,"  she  said,  "  from  his  camp  near 
Cordova,  thanking  you  with  all  his  heart  for  the 
inestimable  service  you  rendered  him,  and  begging 
me  to  tell  you  that  you  can  count  on  his  gratitude 
to  the  extent  of  his  life  at  any  and  all  times.  You 
need  no  assurance  of  mine.  And  now  about  your 
journey.  All  is  prepared  for  you  to  leave  to-mor- 
row morning.  You  are  to  come  here  to  the 
colonel's  quarters  soon  after  daybreak.  Here  are 
your  two  disguises,  for  the  one  as  a  young  bachelor 
of  medicine,  for  the  other  as  a  young  novice.  Here 
is  your  pass,  signed  by  the  minister,  authorizing  you 
both  to  pass  on  to  your  relations  at  Ciudad  Rod- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  211 

rigo,  and  to  go  unmolested  thence  where  you 
choose,  also  recommending  you  to  the  care  of  all 
French  and  Spanish  authorities.  A  regiment 
marches  to-morrow  morning  for  the  frontier;  the 
colonel  is  a  cousin  of  my  husband.  I  have  told  him 
that  some  friends  of  yours  rendered  me  much  kind- 
ness and  service  on  my  way  down,  and  that  I  par- 
ticularly commend  you  to  his  care.  He  has 
promised  to  allow  you  to  follow  the  regiment,  and 
to  see  that  you  get  quarters  at  each  halting-place. 
He  does  not  know  you  for  anything  but  what  you 
appear  to  be.  When  you  have  put  on  these  dresses 
to-morrow  morning,  step  out  by  the  private  door 
from  these  quarters,  looking  carefully  when  you 
start  to  see  that  there  is  no  one  in  the  street.  Then 
go  boldly  to  No.  15  Rue  St.  Geronimo ;  go  into 
the  courtyard,  there  you  will  see  two  stout  mules 
with  all  necessaries,  under  charge  of  a  soldier,  who 
will  have  instructions  to  hand  them  over  to  you 
without  asking  any  questions  ;  then  go  down  to  the 
Retiro  and  wait  till  the  Sixteenth  come  along.  The 
colonel  will  be  on  the  lookout  for  you,  and  you  will 
ride  up  to  him  and  hand  him  this  note.  And  now, 
farewell,  dear  boys ;  never  shall  I  forget  you,  or 
cease  to  pray  for  you,  and  maybe  when  this  ter- 
rible war  is  over  we  may  meet  as  friends  again. 
Keep  these  little  tokens  of  remembrance  of  your 
grateful  friend."  So  saying,  Madame  Reynier 
pressed  into  the  boys'  hands  two  magnificent  gold 
watches  and  chains,  held  her  child  up  for  each  of 
them  to  kiss,  threw  her  arms  around  their  necks 


212  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

and  kissed  them  herself,  and  then  drawing  down 
her  veil  to  conceal  the  tears  which  were  standing  in 
her  eyes,  left  them  hastily. 

That  night  the  boys  said  good-by  to  their  friend, 
the  sergeant,  and  to  those  soldiers  with  whom  they 
had  most  companionship.  "  You  have  guessed,  no 
doubt,  sergeant,"  Tom  said,  in  his  mixture  of  Span- 
ish and  French,  "  that  we  are  not  exactly  what  we 
seem  to  be,  but  if  we  should  ever  meet  again,  under 
different  circumstances,  I  want  you  to  remember 
that  our  connection  with  the  regiment  has  been  in 
a  way  forced  upon  us.  I  should  not  like  you  to 
think,  that  is,  that  under  the  pretense  of  friendship, 
we  have  been  treacherously  learning  things.  Do 
you  understand  ?" 

" I  understand,  mes  braves"  the  sergeant  said ; 
"  Jacques  Pinteau  is  no  fool,  and  he  saw  from  the 
first  that  you  were  not  two  ragged  Spanish  peasant 
boys  by  birth.  I  dare  say  I  can  guess  what  you 
are,  but  there  need  be  no  ill-will  for  that,  and  as 
you  only  came  among  us  by  accident,  as  it  were, 
there  is  no  more  to  be  said  either  way.  There  is 
one  thing  certain,  wherever  or  however  we  meet, 
we  shall  be  friends." 

So  well  were  Madame  Eeynier's  plans  arranged 
that  the  boys  passed  from  Madrid  to  the  frontier 
without  a  single  hitch  or  unpleasantness.  Tom  was 
soberly  attired  as  a  student  at  the  university,  Peter 
was  muffled  up  to  the  eyes  as  a  timid  young  novice, 
going  from  school  to  enter  a  convent,  of  which  his 
aunt  was  lady  superior,  at  Ciudad  Rodrigo.  The 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  213 

colonel,  and,  following  his  example,  the  officers  of 
the  regiment  were  polite  and  civil.  The  marches 
were  of  easy  length,  the  mules  stout  and  smooth- 
going,  with  well-filled  traveling  sacks.  The  weather 
was  delightful,  and  the  bo}7s  enjoyed  the  fortnight's 
march  exceedingly.  Upon  the  road  they  learned 
that  Massena  had  laid  siege  to  Ciudad  Rodrigo,  and 
that  the  Sixteenth  was  on  its  way  to  join  the 
besieging  army. 

It  was  the  end  of  June,  1810,  when  the  Sixteenth 
joined  Massena's  force  before  Ciudad  Rodrigo.  The 
siege  had  continued  for  some  time,  the  British  light 
division,  under  General  Craufurd,  lay  upon  the 
other  side  of  the  river  Agueda,  which  separated 
them  alike  from  the  town  and  the  French  arm}''. 
The  colonel  of  the  Sixteenth  politely  expressed  to 
Tom  his  regret  that  he  could  not,  for  the  present, 
conduct  them  to  their  final  destination,  but  that  he 
hoped  that  the  gate  would  soon  be  open  for  them. 
Tom  thanked  him  for  the  civility  which  he  had 
shown  them  upon  the  road,  and  said  that  he  would, 
with  his  sister,  take  up  his  abode  for  the  present  a 
few  miles  from  the  beleaguered  fortress.  On  leav- 
ing the  regiment  the  boys  went  higher  up  the 
Agueda  to  the  little  town  of  Yillar,  where  there 
was  a  bridge.  This,  however,  was  watched  by  the 
troops  of  both  armies,  and  there  was  at  present 
no  chance  of  effecting  a  passage. 


214  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER   XL 

THE   FIGHT   ON   THE   COA. 

ALL  through  the  winter  of  1809-1810,  Wellington 
had  remained  quietly  on  the  frontier  of  Portugal, 
engaged  in  disciplining  his  troops,  many  of  whom 
were  raw  drafts  from  the  militia,  in  urging  upon 
the  home  government  the  necessity  of  fresh  rein- 
forcements, if  the  war  was  to  be  carried  on  with 
the  smallest  hopes  of  success,  and  in  controversies 
and  disputes  with  the  Portuguese  regency.  This 
body  of  incapables  starved  their  own  army,  refused 
supplies  and  transport  to  the  British,  and  behaved 
with  such  arrogance  and  insolence  that  Wellington 
was  several  times  driven  to  use  the  threat  that, 
unless  measures  were  taken  to  keep  the  Portuguese 
troops  from  starving,  and  to  supply  food  to  the 
British,  he  would  put  his  army  on  board  the 
transports  at  Lisbon,  and  give  up  the  struggle 
altogether. 

Spring  found  the  army  still  on  the  frontier,  and 
when  the  French  advanced  in  force  in  May  to  lay 
siege  to  the  Spanish  frontier  fortress  of  Ciudad 
Rodrigo,  Wellington,  to  the  intense  disappointment 
of  his  own  troops,  and  the  bitter  anger  of  the  Por- 
tuguese and  Spaniards,  refused  to  fight  a  battle  to 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  215 

save  the  fortress,  which,  under  its  gallant  old  gov- 
ernor, Andrea  Hernati,  was  defending  itself  nobly. 

Wellington's  position  was,  however,  a  very  diffi- 
cult one,  and  his  responsibilities  were  immense. 
Allowing  for  the  detachments  which  were  massing 
to  check  three  other  French  columns  advancing  in 
different  directions,  he  had  but  twenty-five  thousand 
men  with  which  to  attempt  to  raise  the  siege  of 
Ciudad  Rodrigo,  or  to  draw  off  the  besieged  garri- 
son. Massena  had  under  him  sixty  thousand  French 
veterans,  and  was  desiring  nothing- more  than  that 
Wellington  should  attack  him.  The  chances  of 
victory  then  were  by  no  means  strong,  and  in  any 
case  victory  could  only  have  been  purchased  by  a 
loss  of  men  which  would  have  completely  crippled 
the  British  general,  and  would  have  rendered  it 
absolutely  necessary  for  him  to  fall  back  again  at 
once.  A  defeat,  or  even  a  heavy  loss  of  men,  would 
have  so  dispirited  the  faint-hearted  government  at 
home  that  they  would  undoubtedly  have  recalled 
the  whole  expedition,  and  resigned  Portugal  to  its 
fate.  Thus  Wellington  decided  not  to  risk  the 
whole  fate  of  the  British  army  and  of  Portugal  for 
merely  a  temporary  advantage,  and  so  stood  firm 
against  the  murmurs  of  his  own  troops,  the  furious 
reproaches  of  the  Portuguese  and  Spaniards,  and 
the  moving  entreaties  for  aid  of  the  gallant  gov- 
ernor of  the  besieged  town. 

At  the  same  time  that  he  refused  to  risk  a  gen- 
eral battle,  he  kept  Craufurd's  division  in  advance 
of  the  Coa,  and  within  two  hours'  march  of  the 


216  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

enemy,  thereby  encouraging  the  garrison  of  Ciudad 
Rodrigo,  and  preventing  Massena  from  pushing  for- 
ward a  portion  of  his  army  while  the  rest  pursued 
the  siege. 

Craufurd's  front  was  guarded  by  the  Agueda,  a 
river  only  passable  by  two  or  three  bridges  and 
fords  in  wet  weather,  but  fordable  in  many  places 
in  the  dry  season.  At  the  commencement  of  June 
the  Agueda  fell,  and  the  French  crossed  in  strength 
at  various  places.  Craufurd,  however,  still  main- 
tained his  position  in  front  of  the  Coa  with  great 
skill  and  boldness.  He  had  under  his  command 
only  four  thousand  infantry,  eleven  hundred  cav- 
alry, and  six  guns,  and  his  maintenance  of  his  posi- 
tion, almost  within  gunshot  of  an  enemy's  army, 
sixty  thousand  strong,  for  three  months,  is  one  of 
the  finest  feats  of  military  audacity  and  ability 
ever  performed. 

Until  the  llth  of  July  the  boys  remained  quietly 
at  a  cottage  occupied  by  peasants,  who  believed 
their  story  that  they  were  only  waiting  to  proceed 
when  the  French  army  advanced.  They  were  freed 
from  molestation  or  inquiry  upon  the  part  of  the 
French  by  the  pass  with  which  Madame  Reynier 
had  supplied  them. 

Upon  that  day  Ciudad  Rodrigo  surrendered,  and 
Massena  prepared  at  once  to  enter  Portugal.  Upon 
the  21st  the  cavalry  advanced  in  great  force,  and 
upon  the  following  day  the  boys  resolved  upon 
endeavoring  to  rejoin  the  British  army.  The 
Agueda  was  now  easily  fordable  in  many  places, 


THE  YOlf'NG  BUGLERS.  217 

but  the  boys  determined  to  swim  across,  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  point  at  which  the  French  army 
was  now  pouring  forward. 

As  evening  came  on  they  left  the  cottage,  and 
walked  two  miles  up  the  stream,  and,  as  soon  as 
night  fell,  took  off  the  costumes  which  had  proved 
of  such  service  to  them,  and  left  them  on  the  bank ; 
then  fastening  their  peasants'  suits  upon  two 
bundles  of  rushes  to  keep  them  dry,  entered  the 
little  river,  and  were  soon  upon  the  opposite  shore. 
They  knew,  from  what  they  had  heard  in  the  after- 
noon, that  Craufurd  had  fallen  back  upon  Almeida, 
a  fortified  town,  and  that  it  was  probable  he  would 
at  once  cross  the  Coa,  as  resistance  to  the  force  now 
approaching  him  seemed  nothing  short  of  madness. 

No  good,  indeed,  could  be  gained  by  a  fight  in 
such  a  position,  with  a  deep  river  in  the  rear, 
crossed  by  only  a  narrow  bridge,  and  commanded 
by  both  banks,  and  Wellington's  orders  had  been 
imperative  "that  upon  no  account  whatever  was 
Craufurd  to  fight  beyond  the  Coa." 

Craufurd,  however,  a  rash  and  obstinate,  although 
a  skillful  general,  was  determined  upon  having  a 
brush  with  the  enemy  before  he  fell  back.  He  an- 
ticipated no  doubt,  that  only  an  advanced  guard  of 
the  enemy  would  come  up  at  first,  and  his  intention 
was  to  inflict  a  severe  check  upon  them  with  the 
magnificent  little  division  under  his  command,  and 
then  fall  back  triumphantly  across  the  Coa.  Mas- 
sena,  however,  was  well  aware  of  the  fighting 
powers  of  the  light  division  and  was  preparing  to 


218  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

hurl  suddenly  upon  him  a  force  more  than  sufficient 
to  crush  it. 

The  Scudamores  had  but  little  fear  of  meeting 
with  any  large  body  of  the  enemy,  as  the  main 
French  advance  was  direct  from  Oiudad  Rodrigo ; 
their  cavalry  would,  however,  be  scattered  all  over 
the  country,  and  were  they  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
any  of  these  parties  they  would  have  been  shot  in- 
stantly, upon  suspicion  of  endeavoring  to  convey 
news  of  the  French  movements  to  Craufurd. 

The  point  where  they  crossed  the  river  was  be- 
tween Villar  and  Naves  Frias  and,  after  an  hour's 
walking  they  struck  the  little  rivulet  called  Duas 
Casas.  This  they  crossed  at  once,  as  they  knew  that 
by  following  its  southern  bank  until  they  saw  some 
high  ground  to  their  left  they  would  find  them- 
selves near  Almeida,  which  they  hoped  to  reach 
before  the  English  retreated. 

All  night  they  tramped  through  the  fields  of 
stubble,  where  the  corn  had  been  long  since  cut  for 
the  use  of  Craufurd's  cavalry,  but  walking  at  night 
through  an  unknown  country  is  slow  work,  and 
when  day  began  to  break  they  entered  a  small 
wood  just  beyond  the  point  where  the  Turones,  as 
the  southern  arm  of  the  Duas  Casas  is  called, 
branches  off  from  the  main  stream.  Several  times 
in  the  course  of  the  day  bodies  of  the  enemy's  cav- 
alry came  near  their  place  of  concealment,  and  the 
Scudamores  congratulated  themselves  that  they  had 
not  given  way  to  their  impatience,  and  tried  to 
push  on  across  the  twenty  miles  that  alone  sepa- 
rated them  from  their  friends. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  219 

At  nightfall  the  wind  rose,  and  a  heavy  rain 
began  to  fall.  They  had  no  stars  by  which  to  steer 
their  course,  and  were,  therefore,  forced  to  follow 
the  bank  of  the  Turones,  although  they  knew  that 
it  would  lead  them  some  distance  to  the  north  of 
Almeida.  It  was  slow  work,  indeed,  for  they  had 
to  grope  their  way  along  in  the  storm,  following 
every  turn  and  bend  of  the  river,  which  formed 
their  only  guide.  After  several  hours'  toil  they 
came  into  a  road  running  north  and  south.  This 
they  knew  was  the  road  leading  from  Guarda  to 
Alameda,  and  it  gave  them  a  clew  as  to  the  distance 
they  had  come.  Still  following  the  river,  they  con- 
tinued their  course  until  they  approached  San 
Pedro,  whence  they  knew  that  a  road  ran  directly 
to  the  British  position  in  front  of  Almeida,  that  is, 
if  the  British  still  maintained  their  position  there. 

As  they  approached  the  village  they  heard  a  deep 
hollow  sound,  and,  stopping  to  listen,  and  laying 
their  ears  to  the  ground,  could  distinguish  the 
rumble  of  heavy  carriages. 

"  The  French  are  advancing  in  force,  Peter  ;  we 
are  just  in  time ;  they  are  going  to  attack  us  in 
the  morning  at  daybreak.  "We  know  the  direction 
now ;  let  us  turn  to  the  left,  and  try  to  get  on  in 
advance  of  them.  They  probably  will  not  push  on 
much  further  until  there  is  light  enough  to  permit 
them  to  form  order  of  battle ;  they  are  evidently, 
by  the  sound,  going  to  the  left,  rather  than  straight 
on." 

The  Scudamores  now  hurried  on,  and  presently 


220  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

the  rumbling  of  the  artillery  died  away,  and  they 
ventured  to  push  to  their  left,  and  to  get  on  the 
road,  which  they  found  deserted.  Half  an  hour's 
run,  for  they  knew  that  every  minute  was  of  im- 
portance, and  they  heard  the  welcome  challenge, 
"  Who  comes  there  ?"  "  Two  British  officers,"  they 
answered,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  were  taken  to 
the  officer  in  charge  of  the  picket,  and  having  once 
convinced  him  of  their  identity,  were  heartily 
greeted  and  welcomed. 

"The  French  are  advancing  in  great  force  to 
attack,"  Tom  said ;  "  please  forward  us  instantly  to 
the  general." 

The  matter  was  too  important  for  an  instant's 
delay,  and  a  sergeant  was  at  once  told  off  to  accom- 
pany them. 

The  first  faint  blush  of  daylight  was  in  the  east 
when  they  arrived  at  the  cottage  which  served  as 
General  Craufurd's  quarters,  and,  upon  their  speak- 
ing to  the  sentinel  at  the  door,  a  window  was 
thrown  open,  and  a  deep  voice  demanded  "  What 
is  it  ?" 

"  We  have  just  arrived  through  the  French  lines," 
Tom  said ;  "  the  enemy  are  at  hand  in  force." 

The  casement  closed,  and  an  instant  afterward 
the  general  came  out.  "  Who  are  you  ?" 

"We  belong  to  the  Norfolk  Rangers,  general, 
and  have  been  detached  on<service  in  the  interior  ; 
we  have  only  just  made  our  way  back." 

"  How  am  I  to  know  your  story  is  true  ?"  the 
general  asked  sharply. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  221 

"  You  may,  perhaps,  remember,  sir,  we  landed 
from  the  Latona,  and  you  kindly  lent  us  horses  to 
accompany  you." 

k'Aha!  I  remember,''  the  general  said.  "Well, 
your  news  ?'' 

"  The  French  have  crossed  the  Turones  in  force, 
sir;  at  least  they  have  a  good  many  guns  with 
them." 

"  Which  way  were  they  going?" 

"As  far  as  we  could  judge  by  the  sound,  sir,  they 
were  taking  up  a  position  between  Villa  Formosa 
and  Fort  Conception." 

"  Good,"  the  general  said  shortly ;  then  turning 
to  three  or  four  of  his  staff  who  had  followed  him 
from  the  cottage :  "  Get  the  troops  under  arms  at 
once.  Come  in  here,  gentlemen." 

The  Scudamores  entered,  and  as  they  came  into 
the  light  of  a  candle  which  stood  on  the  table,  the 
general  smiled  grimly. 

"It  is  lucky  you  were  able  to  recall  yourselves  to 
my  memory,  for  I  should  have  needed  some  strong 
evidence  to  persuade  me  you  were  British  officers 
had  I  seen  you  before  you  spoke.  You  are  wet  to 
the  skin ;  there  is  a  brandy-bottle,  and  you  will  find 
some  bread  and  cold  fowl  in  that  cupboard." 

Five  minutes  later  the  boys  followed  General 
Craufurd  from  his  hut. 

Short  as  was  the  time  which  had  elapsed  since 
their  arrival,  the  troops  were  already  under  arms, 
for  three  months  of  incessant  alarm  and  watchful- 
ness had  enabled  this  splendid  division  to  act  as  one 


222  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

man,  and  to  fall  in  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night 
in  an  incredibly  short  time.  Ten  minutes  later  and 
the  rumble  of  the  baggage  wagons  was  heard  along 
the  road  toward  the  bridge.  The  morning  was 
clearing  fast,  the  clouds  lifted,  and  the  daylight 
seemed  to  break  with  unusual  suddenness. 

The  dark  masses  of  the  French  became  visible 
forming  up  before  the  Turones,  and  Craufurd  hur- 
ried forward  his  cavalry  and  guns  to  check  their 
advance. 

"Hurry  the  infantry  up,  hurry  them  up,"  the 
general  said  urgently  to  the  officers  by  him.  "  Let 
them  take  post  along  the  ridge,  and  then  fall  back 
fighting  toward  the  bridge.  Major  MacLeod,"  he 
said  to  an  officer  of  the  Forty-third,  "  take  these 
gentlemen  with  you  ;  they  are  officers  of  the  Nor- 
folk Rangers.  They  will  join  your  regiment  for  the 
present.  When  your  regiment  falls  back  occupy 
that  stone  inclosure  a  little  way  down  the  slope  at 
the  left  of  the  road,  and  hold  the  enemy  in  check 
while  the  troops  file  over  the  bridge." 

The  officer  addressed  looked  with  surprise  at  the 
boys,  and  signing  to  them  to  folloAv,  hurried  off  to  his 
regiment,  which  was  on  the  left  of  the  British  line. 

Next  to  them  came  a  regiment  of  Portuguese 
riflemen  with  a  wing  of  the  Ninety-fifth  upon  either 
flank,  while  the  Fifty-second  formed  the  right  of 
the  line. 

Upon  reaching  the  regiment  Major  MacLeod 
briefly  introduced  the  boys  to  the  colonel,  who  said  : 
"As  you  have  no  arms,  gentlemen,  I  think  you  had 
better  make  for  the  bridge  at  once." 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  223 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  Torn  replied,  "  there  will  be 
some  muskets  disposable  before  long,  and  directly 
they  are  so  we  will  take  our  place  in  the  ranks." 

They  had  now  leisure  to  look  round  and  examine 
their  position,  and  a  glance  was  sufficient  to  show 
how  great  was  the  peril  in  which  General  Crau- 
f  urd's  obstinacy  had  placed  his  little  force.  In  front 
of  them  were  twenty -four  thousand  French  infantry, 
five  thousand  cavalry,  and  thirty  pieces  of  artillery. 
An  overwhelming  force  indeed,  and  one  which  could 
scarcely  have  been  withstood  by -the  four  thousand 
British  infantry,  even  under  the  most  favorable 
conditions  of  position.  The  position,  however,  was 
here  wholly  against  the  British.  They  stood  at  the 
edge  of  a  plateau,  and  behind  them  the  ground  fell 
away  in  a  steep  hillside  to  the  Coa,  a  mile  distant, 
and  across  the  Coa  there  was  but  a  single  bridge. 

The  enemy  was  approaching  fast.  Key's  great 
brigade  of  cavalry  swept  the  British  horse  before 
them,  and  the  infantry  were  following  at  a  run. 

Resistance  on  the  edge  of  the  plateau  was  hope- 
less, and  Craufurd  ordered  the  infantry  to  fall  back 
at  once.  The  Forty-third  filed  into  the  inclosure, 
rapidly  cut  loopholes  in  the  wall,  and  as  the  enemy 
appeared  on  the  crest  above  opened  a  tremendous 
fire,  under  cover  of  which  the  cavalry  and  artillery 
trotted  briskly  and  in  good  order  down  the  road  to 
the  bridge. 

The  Scudamores,  having  no  duty,  stood  at  the 
entrance  to  the  inclosure  and  watched  the  fight  on 
their  right.  As  the  masses  of  French  infantry 


224  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

appeared  on  the  edge  of  the  plateau  they  made  no 
pause,  but  opening  a  heavy  fire  pressed  forward  on 
the  retiring  British  troops,  who  were  falling  back 
in  open  order,  contesting  every  inch  of  ground.  So 
rapidly  and  hotly,  however,  did  the  French  press 
after  them  that  the  British  were  soon  pushed  back 
beyond  the  line  of  the  inclosure,  and  as  the  French 
followed  closely,  it  was  evident  that  the  Forty-third 
would  be  cut  off  and  surrounded. 

Their  colonel  saw  their  danger,  and  called  upon 
them  to  fall  in  and  retreat,  but  the  entrance  was  so 
narrow  that  it  was  clear  at  a  glance  that  ere  one 
company  could  pass  through  it  the  French  would 
be  upon  them,  and  the  regiment  caught  like  rats  in 
a  trap. 

Officers  and  men  alike  saw  the  danger,  and  there 
was  a  pause  of  consternation. 

Peter  was  standing  next  to  the  colonel,  and  said 
suddenly  as  the  idea  flashed  across  him,  "  The  wall  is 
not  very  strong,  sir,  if  the  men  mass  against  it  and 
push  together  I  think  it  will  go." 

The  colonel  caught  at  the  idea.  "  Now,  lads, 
steady,  form  against  the  rear  wall  four  deep,  close 
together,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  as  close  as  you  can 
pack ;  now  get  ready,  one,  two,  three  !"  and  at  the 
word  the  heavy  mass  of  men  swung  themselves 
against  the  wall ;  it  swayed  with  the  shock,  and  many 
stones  were  displaced ;  another  effort  and  the  wall 
tottered  and  fell,  and  with  a  glad  shout  the  Forty- 
third  burst  out,  and  trotting  on  at  the  double  soon 
joined  the  rifles  and  Ninety-fifth. 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  225 

The  ground  was  rough  and  broken  with  rocks, 
vineyards  and  inclosures,  and  the  troops,  fighting 
with  admirable  coolness  and  judgment,  took  advan- 
tage of  every  obstacle  and  fell  back  calmly  and  in 
good  order  before  the  overwhelming  force  opposed 
to  them. 

Fortunately  the  jealousies  of  the  French  generals, 
which  throughout  the  campaign  contributed  in  no 
slight  degree  to  the  success  of  the  British,  was  now 
the  cause  of  their  safety,  for  Montbrun,  who  com- 
manded the  French  heavy  cavalry,  refused  to  obey 
Ney's  order  to  charge  straight  down  to  the  bridge, 
in  which  case  the  whole  English  infantry  would 
have  been  cut  off;  the  French  hussars,  however, 
being  on  the  British  rear,  charged  among  them 
whenever  the  ground  permitted  them  to  do  so. 

Upon  the  British  right  the  ground  was  more 
open  than  upon  the  left,  and  the  Fifty-second  was 
therefore  obliged  to  fall  back  more  quickly  than 
the  rest  of  the  line,  and  were  the  first  to  arrive  at 
the  bridge  head,  which  was  still  choked  with 
artillery  and  cavalry.  This  was  the  most  dangerous 
moment ;  the  rest  of  the  infantry  could  not  retreat 
until  the  bridge  was  clear,  and  the  French  with  ex- 
ulting shouts  pressed  hard  upon  them  to  drive  them 
back  upon  the  river. 

Major  MacLeod,  seeing  the  urgent  danger,  rallied 
four  companies  of  his  regiment  upon  a  little  hill  on 
the  right  of  the  road,  while  Major  Rowan  collected 
two  companies  on  another  to  the  left.  Here  they 
were  joined  by  many  of  the  riflemen,  ana  for 
awhile  the  French  advance  was  checked. 


226  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

The  Scudamores  had  remained  throughout  close 
to  Major  MacLeod,  and  had  long  since  armed  them- 
selves with  the  muskets  and  pouches  of  fallen  men, 
and  with  Forty-third  shakos  on  their  heads,  were 
fighting  among  the  ranks. 

The  cloud  of  French  skirmishers  pressed  hotly 
forward,  and  MacLeod,  seeing  that  the  bridge  was 
still  blocked,  resolved  suddenly  upon  a  desperate 
measure.  Taking  off  his  cap,  he  pointed  to  the 
enemy,  and  calling  upon  his  men  to  follow  him, 
rode  boldly  at  them.  Peter  Scudamore  caught  up 
a  bugle  which  had  fallen  from  a  dead  bugler  by  his 
side,  blew  the  charge,  and  the  soldiers,  cheering 
loudly,  followed  MacLeod  against  the  enemy. 

Astounded  at  this  sudden  and  unexpected  attack, 
the  French  skirmishers  paused,  and  then  fell  back 
before  the  furious  charge  of  the  Forty-third,  who 
pressed  after  them  with  loud  and  continuous  cheer- 
ing. Looking  back,  MacLeod  saw  that  the  bridge 
was  now  clear,  and  recalled  the  troops,  who  fell 
back  rapidly  again  before  the  French  infantry  had 
recovered  sufficiently  from  their  surprise  to  press 
them. 

The  hussars  were,  however,  again  forward,  and 
were  galloping  down  the  road,  which  was  here 
sunken  between  somewhat  high  banks.  Tom  and 
Peter  were  with  the  last  company,  which  turned 
and  prepared  to  receive  them,  when  Tom,  pointing 
to  a  coil  of  rope  upon  a  cart  which  had  broken  down, 
shouted,  "  Quick,  tie  it  to  these  posts  across  the 
road."  Two  or  three  men  sprang  to  assist  him,  and 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  227 

in  a  minute  the  rope  was  stretched  across  the  road 
at  a  foot  from  the  ground,  and  fastened  round  a 
stone  post  on  either  side.  They  had  scarcely  seized 
their  muskets  and  leaped  up  the  bank  again  when 
the  French  cavalry  came  thundering  down  the  road. 
"  Fire,  a  few  of  you,"  Tom  said,  "  so  as  to  call  their 
attention  up  here,"  and  in  accordance  with  his  order 
a  dropping  fire  was  opened.  The  French  came 
along  at  a  gallop  ;  a  few  of  the  leading  horses  saw 
the  rope  and  leaped  it,  but  those  behind  caught  it 
and  fell,  the  mass  behind  pressed  on,  and  in  an  in- 
stant the  lane  was  choked  with  a  confused  mass  of 
men  and  horses.  "  Now  a  volley,"  Tom  cried,  "  and 
then  to  the  bridge." 

Every  musket  was  emptied  into  the  struggling 
mass,  and  then,  with  a  cheer,  the  men  ran  briskly 
down  to  the  bridge,  and  crossed — the  last  of  the 
British  troops  over  the  Coa. 

The  rest  of  the  infantry  and  artillery  had  already 
taken  ground  on  the  heights  behind  the  river,  and 
these  opened  fire  upon  the  French  as  they  ap- 
proached the  head  of  the  bridge  in  pursuit.  The 
British  were  now,  however,  safe  in  the  position 
which  they  ought  to  have  taken  up  before  the 
advance  of  the  French,  and  had  General  Craufurd 
obeyed  his  orders  not  to  fight  beyond  the  Coa,  the 
lives  of  three  hundred  and  six -of  his  gallant  troops, 
including  twenty-eight  officers,  would  have  been 
saved. 

The  battle,  however,  was  not  yet  over.  The 
artillery  on  both  sides  played  across  the  ravine,  the 


228  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

French  skirmishers  swarmed  down  to  the  river 
bank,  and  between  them  and  the  British  infantry  a 
rapid  fire  was  exchanged,  while  a  heavy  column 
marched  down  to  the  bridge.  With  a  deep-sound- 
ing cheer  they  advanced  upon  it,  while  with  answer- 
ing cheers  the  British  opened  fire  upon  them.  The 
depth  of  the  ravine  at  first  deceived  the  British 
marksmen,  and  the  column  pressed  on  until  its  head 
was  three-quarters  across  the  bridge.  Then  the  iron 
shower  smote  it,  and  beneath  that  terrible  fire  the 
head  of  the  column  melted  away.  Still  it  pressed 
on  till  across  the  bridge  the  corpses  lay  piled  in  a 
mass  as  high  as  the  parapet,  and  beyond  this  heap, 
this  terrible  line,  there  was  no  living.  Then  sullenly 
and  slowly  the  French  fell  back,  while  the  British 
cheers  rose  exultantly  along  the  hillside. 

Twice  again  did  fresh  columns  pour  on  to  the 
bridge,  but  only  to  melt  away  under  the  British  fire, 
neither  of  them  reaching  the  dreadful  line  which 
marked  the  point  reached  by  the  head  of  the  first. 
The  artillery  and  musketry  fire  on  both  sides  con- 
tinued until  four  in  the  afternoon,  when  a  heavy 
rain  set  in,  and  the  fire  ceased  altogether. 

As  the  Coa  was  fordable  at  several  points  lower 
down,  and  the  French  could  therefore  have  turned 
the  position  next  day,  the  British  troops  fell  back 
during  the  night  behind  the  Pinhel  River,  where 
Picton's  division  was  also  encamped. 

Next  morning  the  boys  exchanged  their  Spanish 
suits  for  the  uniform  of  British  officers,  which  they 
obtained  from  the  effects  of  some  of  those  who  had 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  229 

fallen  upon  the  previous  day,  these  being,  as  is 
isual  in  a  campaign,  at  once  sold  by  auction,  the 
amount  realized  being  received  by  the  paymaster 
for  the  benefit  of  the  dead  men's  relatives.  Major 
MacLeod  had  witnessed  their  ready  presence  of 
mind  in  throwing  the  rope  across  the  road,  and  so 
checking  the  French  charge,  and  giving  time  to  the 
rearguard  to  cross  the  bridge,  and  had  made  a  very 
favorable  report  upon  the  subject. 

Two  days  later  and  they  joined  the  Rangers,  who 
were  stationed  at  Guarda,  and  were  received  with 
the  greatest  heartiness  by  their  brother  officers, 
with  warm  but  respectful  greetings  by  the  men, 
and  with  uproarious  demonstrations  of  gladness  on 
the  part  of  Sambo. 

"  The  betting  was  two  to  one  that  you  had  gone 
down,  boys,''  Captain  Manley  said,  after  the  first 
greetings ;  "  but  Carruthers  and  myself  have  taken 
up  all  offers,  and  win  I  don't  know  how  many 
dinners  and  bottles  of  wine.  I  had  the  strongest 
faith  you  would  get  through  somehow.  You  will 
take  up  your  quarters  with  me.  I  have  two  bed- 
rooms upstairs  there,  which  Sam  has  taken  posses- 
sion of  in  your  name.  He  would  have  it  that  you 
were  sure  to  be  back  in  time  for  the  first  fight. 
Dinner  will  be  ready  at  six,  and  after  that  there 
will  be  a  general  gathering  round  the  fire  in  the 
open  to  hear  your  adventures.  No  doubt  you  would 
be  dining  with  the  colonel,  but  I  know  he  is  engaged 
to  the  general." 

"  Yes,  he  told  us  so,"  Tom  said,  "  and  we  are  to 
dine  with  him  to-morrow." 


230  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  All  right,  then  ;  we'll  make  a  night  of  it.  Car- 
ruthers  is  coming  to  dine,  and  Burke  and  Leth- 
bridge;  but  the  room  won't  hold  more  than  six. 
We  are  going  to  have  a  feast,  for  Sam  has  got  hold 
of  a  sucking-pig ;  where  he  got  it  from  I  dare  not 
inquire,  and  Lethbridge  said  his  fellow  had,  some- 
how or  other,  found  a  turkey ;  as  to  wine,  we  shall 
have  it  of  the  best,  for  Burke  is  quartered  at  the 
monastery,  and  the  monks  are  so  delighted  at  find- 
ing him  a  good  Catholic  that  they  have  given  him 
the  run  of  their  cellar." 

It  was  a  jovial  dinner,  and  no  words  can  express 
the  satisfaction  and  delight  which  beamed  on  Sam's 
face  as  he  stood  behind  his  master,  or  the  grin  of 
pride  with  which  he  placed  the  sucking-pig  on  the 
table. 

"  Sam,  Sam !"  Captain  Manley  said  reprovingly, 
"  I  fear  that  pig  is  not  honestly  come  by,  and  that 
one  of  these  days  we  shall  hear  that  you  have  come 
to  a  bad  end." 

"  No,  no,  Massa  Captain  Manley,  sar,"  Sam  said, 
"  dat  pig  come  quite  honest,  dat  pig  made  present 
to  Sam." 

"  A  likel}r  story  that,  Sam.  Come,  out  with  it. 
I  have  no  doubt  it  was  quite  as  honest  as  Leth- 
bridge's  turkey,  anyhow.  Come,  tell  us  now  it 
was." 

Thus  invoked,  Sam's  face  assumed  the  pompous 
air  with  which  he  always  related  a  story,  and  he 
began : 

"Well,  sar,  de  affair  happened  in  dis  way    When 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  231 

de  massa  arribe,  two  o'clock,  and  went  in  for  long 
talk  wid  de  colonel,  dis  chile  said  to  himself,  '  Now 
what  am  I  going  to  get  them  for  dinner?'  De 
rations  sarve  out  dis  morning  war  all  skin  and 
bone,  and  war  pretty  nigh  finished  at  lunch.  Sam 
say  to  himself,  Captain  Manley's  sure  to  say, 
'  You  dine  wid  me ;'  but  as  Captain  Manley  hadn't 
got  no  food  himself,  de  invitation  was  bery  kind, 
bery  kind  indeed ;  but  massa  wasn't  likely  to  get 
fat  on  dat  invitation." 

Sam's  narrative  was  interrupted  by  a  perfect 
shout  of  laughter  upon  the  part  of  all  at  table,  Cap- 
tain Manley  joining  heartily  in  the  laugh  against 
himself.  When  they  had  a  little  recovered  again 
Sam  went  on  as  gravely  as  ever.  "  Dis  struck  Sam 
bery  serious,  not  to  have  nothing  for  dinner  after 
being  away  seben  months ;  presently  idea  occur  to 
dis  chile,  and  he  stroll  permiscuous  up  to  big  farm- 
house on  hill.  When  Sam  got  near  house,  kept  out 
of  sight  of  window ;  at  last  got  quite  close,  took  off 
shako,  and  put  head  suddenly  in  at  window.  Sure 
enough,  just  what  Sam  expected,  dere  sat  missus  of 
farm,  fat  ole  woman,  wid  fat  ole  servant  opposite 
her.  De  door  was  open,  and  dis  little  pig  and  sev- 
eral of  his  broders  and  sisters  was  a  frisking  in  and 
out.  De  ole  women  look  up  bofe  togeder,  and  dey 
give  a  awful  shriek  when  dey  saw  dis  chile's  head  ; 
dey  fought  it  were  de  debil,  sure  enough.  Dey 
drop  down  on  dere  knees,  and  begin  to  pray  as  fast 
as  maybe.  Den  I  give  a  loud  '  Yah !  yah !'  and  dey 
screams  out  fresh.  '  Oh  !  good  massa  debil !'  says  the 


232  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

old  woman,  '  what  you  want  ?  I  been  bery,  bery 
bad,  but  don't  take  me  away.'  You  see,  Massa 
Tom,  I  pick  up  little  Spanish,  'nuff  to  understand, 
since  you  been  gone.  I  not  say  nuffin,  and  de  old 
woman  den  go  on,  'If  you  want  one  soul,  Massa 
Debil,  take  dis  here,'  pointing  to  her  serbant ;  '  she 
been  much  more  wicked  nor  me.'  Den  de  serbant 
she  set  up  awful  shriek,  and  I  says,  *  Dis  time  I  hab 
pity  on  you,  nex'  time  I  come,  if  you  not  good  I 
carry  you  bofe  away.  But  must  take  soul  away  to 
big  debil,  else  he  neber  forgib  me.  Dere,  I  will 
carry  off  soul  of  little  pig.  Gib  it  me.'  De  serbant 
she  gives  cry  ob  joy,  jump  up,  seize  little  pig,  and 
bery  much  afraid,  bring  him  to  window.  Before  I 
take  him  I  say  to  old  missus,  '  Dis  a  free  gibt  on 
your  part  ?'  and  she  say,  '  Oh,  yes,  oh,  yes,  good 
Massa  Debil,  you  can  take  dem  all  if  you  like.'  I 
say,  'No;  only  one — and  now  me  gib  you  bit 
advice.  My  massa  down  below  hear  you  bery  bad 
ole  woman,  never  gib  noting  to  de  poor,  bery  hard, 
bery  bad.  Me  advise  you  change  your  conduct,  or 
as  sure  as  eggs  is  eggs,  he  send  me  up  again  for  you 
in  no  time.'  Den  1  gave  two  great  'Yah!  yah's!' 
again  bery  loud,  and  showed  de  white  ob  my  eye, 
and  dey  went  down  on  to  knees  again,  and  I  go 
quietly  round  corner  ob  house,  and  walk  home  wid 
de  pig  which  was  giben  to  me.  Noting  like  steal- 
ing about  dat,  Massa  Manley,  sar !  " 

Sam's  story  was  received  with  roars  of  laughter, 
and  when  they  had  recovered  themselves  a  little 
Captain  Manley  said,  "It  is  lucky  we  march  to- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  233 

morrow,  Sam,  for  if  the  good  woman  were  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  you  in  uniform,  and  were  to  find  she 
had  been  tricked,  she  might  lay  a  complaint  against 
you ;  and  although,  as  you  say  the  pig  was  freely 
given  to  you,  I  imagine  the  provost-marshal  might 
consider  that  it  was  obtained  under  false  pretenses. 
But  here  are  the  other  men  outside ;  we  had  better 
adjourn,  for  every  one  is  longing  to  hear  your 
adventures." 

It  was  a  lovely  evening,  and  as  the  officers  of  the 
Norfolk  Hangers  sat  or  lay  round  the  fire,  which 
was  lit  for  light  and  cheerfulness  rather  than 
warmth,  the  boys,  after  their  long  wanderings 
among  strangers,  felt  how  pleasant  and  bright  life 
was  among  friends  and  comrades.  They  had  first 
to  relate  their 'ad  ventures  with  .the  guerrillas,  after 
which  it  was  agreed  that  they  had  earned  the  right 
to  be  silent  for  the  rest  of  the  evening,  and  song, 
and  jest,  and  merry  story  went  round  the  ring. 

Sam  was  installed  under  the  direction  of  the 
doctor,  a  jovial  Irishman,  as  concocter  of  punch, 
and  his  office  was  by  no  means  a  sinecure. 

"  Now,  major,  give  us  the  song  of  the  regiment," 
Captain  Manley  said,  and,  as  he  spoke,  there  was  a 
general  cry  round  the  circle  of  "  The  Hangers,  the 
Rangers."  "  I'm  agreeable,"  the  major  said.  "  Give 
me  another  tumbler  of  punch  to  get  my  pipes  in 
order.  Make  it  a  little  sweeter  than  the  last  brew, 
Sam;  yes,  that's  better.  Well,  here  goes — full 
chorus,  and  no  shirking." 


234  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

THE  RANGERS. 

"  Hurrah  for  the  Rangers,  hurrah!  hurrah! 
Here's  to  the  corps  that  we  love  so  well; 
Ever  the  first  in  the  deadly  fray, 
Steady  and  firm  amid  shot  and  shell. 
Scatter'd  as  skirmishers  out  in  the  front, 
Contesting  each  foot  of  the  grcuiid  we  hold, 
Nor  yielding  a  step  though  we  bear  the  brunt 
Of  the  first  attack  of  the  foemen  bold. 

Hurrah  for  the  Rangers,  hurrah!  hurrah! 

Here's  to  the  corps  that  we  love  so  well; 

Ever  the  first  in  the  deadly  fray, 

Steady  and  firm  amid  shot  and  shell. 


"  Steady,  boys,  steady,  the  foe  falls  back, 
Sullenly  back  to  the  beat  of  the  drum, 
Hark  to  the  thunder  that  nears  our  flank, 
Rally  in  square,  boys,  their  cavalry  come. 
Squadron  on  squadron,  wave  upon  wave, 
Dashing  along  with  an  ocean's  force, 
But  they  break  into  spray  on  our  bayonets'  points, 
And  we  mock  at  the  fury  of  rider  and  horse. 
Hurrah  for  the  Rangers,  etc. 


The  gunner  may  boast  of  the  death  he  deals 
As  he  shatters  the  foe  with  his  iron  hail. 
And  may  laugh  with  pride  as  he  checks  the  charge, 
Or  sees  the  dark  column  falter  and  quail. 
But  the  gunner  fights  with  the  foe  afar, 
In  the  rear  of  the  line  is  the  battery's  place, 
The  Ranger  fights  with  a  sterner  joy, 
For  he  strives  with  his  foeman  face  to  face. 
Hurrah  for  the  Rangers,  etc. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  235 

"  The  cavalry  man  is  dashing  and  gay, 
His  steed  is  fast,  and  his  blade  is  fine, 
He  blithely  rides  to  the  fiercest  fray, 
And  cuts  his  way  through  the  foeman's  line. 
But  the  wild,  fierce  joy  of  the  deadly  breach, 
Or  the  patient  pluck  of  the  serried  square 
Are  far  away  from  the  horseman's  reach. 
While  the  Norfolk  Rangers  are  sure  to  be  there. 
Hurrah  for  the  Rangers,  etc." 

Long,  loud,  and  hearty  was  the  cheering  as  the 
last  chorus  concluded.  "  Yery  good  song,  very  well 
sung,  jolly  companions  every  "one,"  shouted  the 
doctor.  "  Uow,  Manley,  keep  the  ball  rolling,  give 
us  '  The  Bivouac.' ':  Captain  Manley  emptied  his 
glass,  and,  without  hesitation,  began  : 

THE  BIVOUAC. 

"  The  weary  march  is  over,  boys,    the  campfire's  burning 

bright, 

So  gather  round  the  blazing  logs,  we'll  keep  high  feast  to- 
night, 

For  every  heart  is  full  of  joy,  and  every  cheek  aglow, 
That  after  months  of  waiting,  at  last  we  meet  the  foe, 
To-morrow's  sun  will  see  the  fight,  and  ere  that  sun  goes 

down, 

Our  glorious  flag  another  wreath  of  victory  shall  crown. 
Hurrah,  hurrah  for  the  bivouac, 
With  comrades  tried  and  true, 
With  faces  bright,  and  spirits  light, 
And  the  foemen's  fires  in  view. 

"  Then  fill  your  cups  with  Spanish  wine,  and  let  the  toast  go 

round; 

Here's  a  health  to  all  who  love  us  on  dear  old  England's 
ground. 


236  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Be  their  tresses  gold  or  auburn,  or  black  as  ebon's  hue, 
Be  their  eyes  of  witching  hazel,  loving  gray,  or  heaven's 

blue, 
Here's  to  them  all,  the  girls  we  love,  God  bless  them  every 

one: 
May  we  all  be  here  to  toast  them  when  to-morrow's  work  is 

done. 

Hurrah,  hurrah,  etc. 

"  But  whate'er  to-morrow  bring  us,  it  shall  shed  no  gloom 

to-night, 
For  a  British  soldier  does  not  flinch  from  thought  of  death 

in  fight; 

No  better  ending  could  we  wish,  no  worthier  do  we  know, 
Than  to  fall  for  king  and  country,  with  our  face  toward 

the  foe; 
And  if  we  go,  our  friends  who  stay  will  keep  our  memory 

bright, 

And  will  drink  to  us  in  silence  by  many  a  campfire's  light. 
Hurrah,  hurrah,  etc." 

When  the  last  chorus  had  ceased,  the  boys,  who 
had  had  a  long  march  that  morning,  and  were 
thoroughly  tired,  stole  quietly  off  to  bed,  but  it  was 
not  till  long  after  they  had  gone  to  sleep  that  the 
jovial  party  round  the  fire  broke  up,  and  that  Sam 
was  relieved  from  his  duties  of  concocter  of  punch. 


THE  YOU1TG  BUGLERS.  237 


CHAPTER    XII. 

BT7SAOO   AND   TORRES    VEDRAS. 

INSTEAD  of  pressing  forward  upon  his  invasion  of 
Portugal,  Massena  prepared  to  besiege  Almeida, 
and  for  a  month  the  British  and  Portuguese  army 
remained  in  their  position  within  a  few  hours' 
march  of  that  town.  Wellington  expected  that 
Almeida  would  be  able  to  resist  for  two  months, 
and  hoped  to  find  some  opportunity  for  falling 
suddenly  upon  the  besiegers  ;  but  even  a  resistance 
of  two  months  would  have  made  it  so  late  in  the 
season  that  Massena  must  have  postponed  his  inva- 
sion until  the  next  spring. 

Upon  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  August  the 
French  batteries  opened  fire,  and  from  Guarda  the 
dull,  heavy  roar  of  artillery  could  be  heard  all  day. 
As  darkness  fell  the  officers  of  the  Rangers  were, 
as  usual,  assembling  round  their  fire,  when  the 
earth  seemed  to  shake  beneath  their  feet,  and  a 
flash  like  that  of  summer  lightning  lit  the  eastern 
sky.  "  What  can  that  be  ?"  was  the  general  ex- 
clamation. A  minute  later,  and  a  deep,  heavy, 
prolonged  roar  sounded  in  their  ears — then  all  was 
quiet. 


238  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

•'  That  is  a  big  magazine,"  Captain  Manley  said, 
"  and  I'm  afraid  it's  the  town,  for  it  sounded  too 
heavy  for  a  mere  field  magazine.  If  it  be  the  town, 
you'll  see  it  won't  hold  out  much  longer ;  even  if 
the  actual  damage  is  not  very  great,  a  great  explo- 
sion always  damages  the  morale  of  a  defense,  and 
in  that  case  we  shall  have  Massena  upon  us,  and 
there  will  be  wigs  on  the  green  ere  many  days  are 
over." 

Captain  Manley 's  conclusions  were  correct.  The 
magazine  of  Almeida  had  exploded  with  terrific 
effect.  Only  six  houses  were  left  standing  in  the 
town,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  ramparts  was 
thrown  down,  and  five  hundred  people  were  killed 
on  the  spot.  The  stones  were  hurled  in  all  direc- 
tions with  such  force  that  forty  of  the  besiegers 
were  hurt  in  the  trenches. 

Colonel  Cox,  who  commanded,  endeavored  to 
rally  the  panic-stricken  garrison,  and  upon  the  fol- 
lowing morning  attempted  to  negotiate  with  Mas- 
sena, who  sent  an  officer  to  demand  instant  sur- 
render. 

Defense  was,  in  fact,  impossible,  but  Colonel  Cox 
attempted  to  negotiate,  because  he  hoped  that  Wel- 
lington would  at  once  advance  to  his  rescue.  His 
intentions  were  frustrated,  however,  by  the  treachery 
and  mutiny  of  the  principal  Portuguese  officers 
under  him,  and  the  French  at  once  took  possession 
of  the  ruins. 

The  British  army  fell  back  a  short  distance  when 
the  news  of  the  disaster  arrived,  and  a  fortnight  of 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  239 

great  anxiety  and  watchfulness  passed,  as  it  was  not 
certain  by  which  road  or  roads  Massena  would 
advance. 

It  was  not  until  the  18th  of  September  that  Mas- 
sena fairly  commenced  his  march,  having  chosen 
the  road  from  Yisen  through  Martagoa,  and  the 
next  day  the  news  reached  the  Rangers  that  the 
British  army  was  to  concentrate  on  the  heights  of 
Busaco. 

"  So  we  are  going  to  have  a  fight  for  it,"  Car- 
ruthers  said  to  the  boys,  as  the  officers  assembled 
in  readiness  to  take  their  places  when  the  troops 
had  fallen  in.  "  What  will  be  the  end  of -it  ?" 

"We  kball  lick  them,"  an  old  captain  said, 
"  though  they  are  two  to  one,  and  then  they  will 
march  round  us  somehow,  and  then  we  shall  have 
to  fall  back  in  all  haste  on  Lisbon,  and  embark 
there,  and  we  shall  eat  our  Christmas  dinner  in 
England." 

There  was  a  general  murmur  of  assent,  for  at 
that  time  the  belief  was  almost  universal  in  the 
British  army  that  they  would  be  forced  to  abandon 
Portugal. 

"I  do  not  know,"  Major  Fanshawe  said.  "I 
heard  last  night,  from  a  man  who  has  just  returned 
from  sick  leave  at  Lisbon,  that  there  are  thousands 
of  peasants  employed  under  our  engineers  in  getting 
up  some  tremendous  works  some  fifteen  miles  this 
side  of  Lisbon.  I  should  not  be  surprised  yet  if 
Massena  finds  the  chief  a  nut  too  hard  to  crack, 
with  all  his  force." 


240  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"I  have  heard  something  about  these  works  at 
Torres  Vedras,"  Captain  Manley  said,  "a  mere 
rumor ;  still,  I  believe  there  must  be  something  in 
it.  Wellington  has  only  srme  twenty-five  thousand 
British  troops,  and  as  many  Portuguese,  while  Mas- 
sena  has  over  a  hundred  thousand  veterans  at  his 
command.  Our  game  would  be  hopeless  unless  we 
have  something  to  fall  back  on.  No ;  I  have  every 
faith  in  our  general.  But  there  goes  the  bugle." 

On  the  24tht,l}Ue  Rangers,  with  the  rest  of  Pic- 
ton's  divisio^, a,  fl^ved  on  the  crest  of  Busaco,  where 
Cole's  and  Craufurd's  divisions  arrived  on  the  same 
day.  This  position  was  one  of  immense  strength, 
being  a  long  ridge,  with  a  very  deep  valley  in 
front.  Upon  the  opposite  side  of  this  ravine  the 
slope  was  as  steep  and  sharp  as  that  of  Busaco 
itself,  so  that  the  opposite  crest  was  within  easy 
cannon  shot.  The  enemy,  in  order  to  attack  the 
British  position,  would  have  to  descend  into  the 
bottom  of  this  steep  ravine,  and  then  climb  up  the 
precipitous  ascent,  to  meet  the  British  soldiers 
awaiting  them,  fresh  and  unshaken,  at  the  top.  So 
strong,  indeed,  was  the  position  that  the  English 
generals  were  doubtful  whether  Massena  would 
venture  to  attack. 

Upon  the  25th  Craufurd  moved  his  division  for- 
ward, and  would  have  repeated  his  mistake  of  the 
Coa  had  not  Wellington  himself  gone  forward  and 
recalled  the  troops,  bringing  them  off  with  difficult}' 
in  the  face  of  the  advancing  masses  of  the  French. 
By  three  in  the  afternoon  forty  thousand  French 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  241 

infantry  were  on  the  ridge  opposite  Busaco,  and  it 
appeared  probable  that  the  battle  would  take  place 
that  afternoon,  in  which  case  the  British  position 
would  have  been  precarious,  for  neither  Spencer's, 
Hill's,  nor  Leith's  divisions  were  up. 

Massena,  however,  was  miles  behind,  and  Ney, 
who  commanded  the  advance,  could  not  attack 
without  orders ;  thus,  the  moment  favorable  for  the 
French  passed  by.  When  Massena  arrived  next 
day  the  British  divisions  were  all  up  and  in  their 
places,  and  the  long  crest  of  Bus'aco  swarmed  with 
troops.  Hill  occupied  the  right  across  the  road  to 
Pena  Cova,  then  came  Leith's  fifth  division,  then 
came  Picton  with  the  third  division,  with  Spencer's 
division,  the  first,  next  to  him.  On  a  plateau  in 
front  of  a  convent  lay  Craufurd  and  Pack,  while 
Cole,  with  the  fourth  division,  was  on  the  left. 

The  27th  and  28th  were  passed  in  comparative 
tranquillity,  the  rival  armies  surveying  each  other 
across  the  chasm.  From  the  woods  far  below  came 
up  the  constant  crack  of  the  rifle,  as  the  skirmishers 
on  either  side  pushed  each  other  backward ;  and  on 
the  evening  of  the  28th  this  fighting  increased  so 
much  in  strength  and  intensity  that  the  British 
troops  were  some  time  under  arms  in  expectation 
of  a  night  attack,  for  the  enemy's  riflemen  had 
pressed  far  up  on  the  hillside  toward  the  British 
lines.  As  the  night  went  on,  however,  the  fire 
ceased,  and  the  dark  ravine  between  the  two  long 
lines  of  bright  watchfires  became  hushed  and  still. 

The   Rangers  were   with  Picton's  division,  and 


242  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

were  out  as  an  advance  halfway  down  the  ravine, 
two  companies  being  down  in  the  bottom  as  skir- 
mishers. Morning  was  but  just  breaking  when  a 
heavy  fire  burst  out  in  front.  The  regiment  sprang 
to  its  feet,  and  prepared  for  action.  It  was  not 
long  in  coming,  for  the  fire  rolled  rapidly  up  the 
hill  toward  them,  and  the  skirmishing  companies 
came  running  back,  pressed  by  a  heavy  column  of 
the  enemy.  Reynier  had  formed  in  two  divisions, 
one  of  which  was  now  pressing  forward  against 
Picton's  right,  while  the  object  of  the  other  was  to 
gain  the  crest  still  further  to  the  right,  and  so  place 
themselves  between  Picton  and  Leigh.  The  whole 
regiment  was  at  once  engaged,  but  the  French 
assault  was  too  powerful  to  be  resisted,  and  the 
Rangers  and  the  other  regiments  of  the  advanced 
brigade  gave  way  sullenly,  while  the  French  eagerly 
pressed  up  the  hill,  although  a  battery  opened  upon 
them  from  the  crest,  while  they  were  unsupported 
by  their  own  artillery. 

"  Golly,  Massa  Peter,  dese  fellows  fight  bery 
hard ;  look  as  if  dey  lick  us  dis  time,"  the  black. 
who  was  in  Peter's  company,  said  to  him  as  the 
regiment  retreated. 

"  The  battle  has  only  begun  yet,  Sam.  We  have 
plenty  of  fresh  troops  at  the  top  of  the  hill." 

"  Good  ting,  dat,  Massa  Peter.  Bery  hard  work, 
dis — climb  hill,  carry  kit,  fire  gun,  dodge  de  bullets, 
all  same  time." 

"  You  didn't  dodge  that  bullet  sharp  enough, 
Sam,"  Peter  said  with  a  laugh,  as  the  negro's  shako 
was  carried  off  with  a  ball. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  243 

"  Him  cum  too  fast.  Dere,  you  frog-eating  thief," 
he  said  angrily  as  he  fired  his  musket  at  an  advanc- 
ing foe.  "  Dat  serve  you  right,"  he  went  on  to 
himself  as  the  Frenchman  fell.  "  You  spoil  Sam's 
hat.  Dis  colored  gentleman  catch  cold  first  time 
him  come  on  to  rain." 

The  French  continued  their  impetuous  advance. 
Picton's  right,  as  they  climbed  the  hill,  fell  back 
toward  his  center,  and  in  half  an  hour  from  the 
first  shot  being  fired  the  head  of  the  French  column 
had  won  the  crest,  and,  being  between  Leigh  and 
Picton's  divisions,  had  cut  the  British  position. 
Then  the  column  nearest  to  Picton's  division  began 
to  wheel  to  its  right,  so  as  to  sweep  the  crest. 

"  Lie  down,  the  Rangers ;  every  man  down," 
shouted  the  colonel,  and  the  breathless  men  threw 
themselves  panting  on  the  ground.  A  wild  Irish 
shout  was  heard  behind  them  as  they  did  so,  and  a 
tremendous  volley  of  musketry  rang  over  their 
heads,  and  then  the  Eighty-eighth  and  a  wing  of 
the  Forty-fifth  dashed  across  them,  and,  with  fierce 
cheers,  charged  that  portion  of  the  column  engaged 
in  wheeling.  Breathless  and  in  disorder  from  their 
prodigious  efforts,  the  French  were  unable  to  resist 
this  fresh  attack.  In  an  instant  the  British  were 
among  them,  and  mixed  up  in  wild  confusion, 
fighting  hand  to  hand,  the  mass  of  combatants  went 
mingled  together  down  the  hill.  Nor  was  the  suc- 
cess of  the  French  column  which  had  gained  the 
crest  of  long  duration,  for  Leith  brought  up  one  of 
his  brigades ;  Colonel  Cameron3  with  the  Ninth 


244  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Regiment,  dashed  at  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet, 
without  firing  a  single  shot,  while  the  Thirty- 
eighth  attacked  their  flank;  and  the  French,  unublo 
to  resist  the  onslaught,  relinquished  their  position 
and  retreated  down  the  hill.  Nor  upon  the  French 
right  had  Key's  attack  proved  more  successful. 

Napier  thus  describes  the  combat  in  this  quarter 
of  the  field:  "  When  the  light  broke,  three  heavy 
masses  detached  from  the  sixth  corps  were  seen  to 
enter  the  woods  below,  and  to  throw  forward  a 
profusion  of  skirmishers ;  one  of  them,  under  Gen- 
eral Marchand,  emerging  from  the  dark  chasm  and 
following  the  main  road,  seemed  intent  to  turn  the 
right  of  the  light  division  ;  a  second,  under  Loison, 
made  straight  up  the  mountain  against  the  front ; 
the  third  remained  in  reserve.  Simon's  brigade. 
leading  Loison's  attack,  ascended  with  a  wonderful 
alacrity,  and  though  the  light  troops  plied  it  inces- 
santly with  musketry,  and  the  artillery  bullets 
swept  through  it  from  the  first  to  the  last  section, 
its  order  was  never  disturbed,  nor  its  speed  in  the 
least  abated.  Boss'  guns  were  worked  with  in- 
credible quickness,  yet  their  range  was  palpably 
contracted  every  round ;  the  enemy's  shots  came 
ringing  up  in  a  sharper  key,  the  English  skirmish- 
ers, breathless  and  begrimed  with  powder,  rushed 
over  the  edge  of  the  ascent,  the  artillery  drew  back, 
and  the  victorious  cries  of  the  French  were  heard 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  summit.  Craufurd, 
standing  alone  on  one  of  the  rocks,  had  been  in- 
tently watching  the  progress  of  their  attack,  and 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  245 

now,  with  a  shrill  tone,  ordered  the  two  regiments 
in  reserve  to  charge.  The  next  moment  a  horrid 
shout  startled  the  French  column,  and  eighteen 
hundred  British  bayonets  went  sparkling  over  the 
hill.  Yet  so  brave,  so  hardy  were  the  leading 
French,  that  each  man  of  the  first  section  raised 
his  musket,  and  two  officers  and  ten  men  fell  before 
them.  Not  a  Frenchman  had  missed  his  mark. 
They  could  do  no  more.  The  head  of  their  column 
was  violently  thrown  back  upon  the  rear,  both 
flanks  were  overlapped  at  the  same  time  by  the 
English  wings,  three  terrible  discharges  at  five 
yards'  distance  shattered  the  wavering  mass,  and  a 
long  line  of  broken  arms  and  bleeding  carcasses 
marked  the  line  of  flight." 

Ney  did  not  renew  the  attack,  and  with  some  des- 
ultory skirmishing  the  battle  ended  at  two  o'clock, 
and  an  hour's  truce  enabled  both  parties  to  carry  off 
their  wounded. 

Small  parties  of  the  French  came  in  contact  with 
the  English  skirmishers  during  the  afternoon,  but 
the  battle  of  Busaco  was  over. 

"  Don't  call  dat  much  of  battle,"  Sam  said  dis- 
contentedly. "  Just  little  fierce  fight,  bery  out 
of  bref,  and  den,  just  as  second  wind  came,  all 
ober." 

The  battle  of  Busaco  was  indeed  one  of  secondary 
importance.  The  losses  were  not  great  on  either 
side,  although  that  of  the  French  was  fully  threefold 
greater  than  that  of  the  British,  as  the  former  were 
exposed  during  their  attack  to  the  grape  and  shell 


246  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

of  the  British  guns,  while  the  French  guns  afforded 
no  assistance  to  their  infantry.  The  French  loss,  in 
killed  and  wounded  and  prisoners,  did  not  exceed 
four  thousand,  of  which  only  eight  hundred  were 
killed.  Nor  was  any  strategical  advantage  gained 
by  the  battle,  for  the  French,  upon  the  following 
day,  found  a  road  across  the  hills  to  the  British  left 
from  Martagoa  through  Bonzalva. 

Throughout  the  day  they  made  feints  of  renewing 
the  attack  upon  the  English  position,  and  it  was  not 
until  late  in  the  afternoon  that  long  columns  of 
men  were  seen  crossing  the  hill  to  the  left ;  and 
Wellington  discovered  that  Busaco  had  been  won  in 
vain,  for  that  his  flank  was  turned,  and  there  was 
nothing  for  it  but  to  fall  back  upon  Torres  Vedras. 
Before  night  the  whole  British  army  was  in  retreat. 

"  "What  a  horrible  scene  of  confusion,"  Tom  re- 
marked, as  they  marched  into  the  town  of  Coimbra 
next  day. 

"  Confusion  !"  Captain  Manley  said  ;  "  it  is  enough 
to  drive  a  commander-in-chief  out  of  his  mind. 
Here  Wellington  has  for  weeks  been  endeavoring  to 
get  the  Portuguese  government  to  compel  all  the 
population  to  retire  upon  Lisbon,  carrying  all  they 
can,  destroying  the  mills,  and  burning  all  the  corn 
they  could  not  carry  off.  The  government  did  issue 
the  order,  but  it  has  taken  no  steps  whatever  to 
carry  it  out,  although  they  knew  all  along  that  we 
could  never  repel  the  invasion  in  the  open.  As  it 
is,  the  greater  portion  of  these  poor  wretches  will 
lose  all  they  possess,  which  they  might  have  carried 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  247 

off  quietly  enough  during  the  last  two  months. 
Many  of  them  will  lose  their  lives,  and  they  will 
block  the  roads  so  that  we  shall  have  the  French 
down  on  us  to  a  certainty." 

Nothing  could  be  more  sad  than  the  scene.  The 
streets  of  Coimbra  were  crowded  with  fugitives 
from  the  country  round,  and  these,  as  well  as  the 
inhabitants,  were  all  preparing  to  push  onward 
toward  Lisbon.  Bullock  carts  and  carriages,  mules, 
donkeys,  and  horses  were  crowded  together,  all 
laden  with  the  aged,  the  children,  'the  sick,  and  such 
property  as  was  most  portable  and  valuable.'  Happily 
Massena  had  a  circuitous  detour  to  make ;  the  road 
in  the  mountain  defile  was  scarcely  passable,  and 
throughout  the  march  he  displayed  but  little  energy; 
consequently  it  was  not  until  the  morning  of  the 
1st  of  October  that  his  cavalry  engaged  those  of  the 
light  division  which  was  covering  the  retreat.  The 
division  fell  back  through  the  town,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants, who  had  lingered  to  the  last  in  some  vague 
hope  that  the  French  would  not  come,  now  rushed 
out  again.  The  bridge  behind  the  town  was  choked, 
and  the  troops  had  to  halt  for  some  time.  In  the 
rear  the  pistol  shots  of  the  cavalry  told  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  French,  and  the  din  made  by  the 
panic-stricken  fugitives  was  increased  by  the  yells 
of  the  prisoners  shut  up  and  forgotten  in  the  prison 
hard  by.  Their  cries  and  supplications  were  too 
painful  to  be  resisted,  and  the  British  forced  the 
prison  doors  and  let  them  free.  Once  across  the 
bridge,  the  troops  found  the  defile  of  Condeixa  so 


248  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

choked  up  that  it  was  impossible  to  effect  a  passage, 
and,  had  the  French  pressed  them,  the  division  must 
have  been  destroyed. 

The  French  infantry,  however,  had  not  arrived, 
and  by  night  the  road  was  cleared,  and  the  troops 
passed  on. 

There  was  no  pursuit,  for  Massena  allowed  his 
troops  to  halt  and  plunder  Coimbra,  and  the  British 
by  easy  marches  fell  back  to  Torres  Vedras ;  but 
though  unpursued,  the  disorder  and  relaxation  of 
discipline  which  always  marks  a  retreat  showed 
itself,  and  Wellington  was  obliged  to  hang  several 
plunderers,  and  to  resort  to  other  severe  measures 
to  restore  to  discipline  that  army  which  only  a 
week  before  had  repulsed  the  best  troops  of  France. 
Toward  the  end  of  the  march  the  French  pressed 
them  again,  and  Craufurd,  with  his  light  division, 
had  a  narrow  escape  of  being  cut  off. 

Great  was  the  satisfaction  of  the  British  troops 
when  they  took  up  the  position  so  carefully  pre- 
pared for  them;  equally  great  the  surprise  of 
Massena  and  the  French  army  when  they  beheld 
the  almost  impregnable  line  of  redoubts  and  for- 
tresses of  whose  very  existence  they  had  only 
heard  a  confused  rumor  two  or  three  days  before. 
And  yet  formidable  as  was  the  chain  of  forts  occu- 
pied by  the  British,  this  was  weak  in  comparison  to 
the  second  line,  some  five  or  six  miles  in  the  rear, 
to  which  Wellington  would  have  fallen  back  if 
driven  from  his  first  position.  This  second  position 
was  indeed  that  which  he  had  originally  intended  to 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  249 

have  taken  up,  the  redoubts  on  the  exterior  range 
of  hills  being  intended  as  outposts ;  but  while 
Massena  delayed  his  advance,  the  outside  line  of  forti- 
fications had  so  grown  and  increased  in  strength, 
that  "Wellington  resolved  to  hold  them  in  the  first 
place. 

There  were,  therefore,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
plan,  three  lines  of  defense.  The  first  from  Al- 
handra  on  the  Tagus  to  Zizandre  on  the  seacoast. 
This,  following  the  windings  of  the  hills,  was 
twenty-nine  miles  long ;  the  second  and  main  line 
was  from  Quintella  on  the  Tagus  to  the  mouth  of 
the  San  Lorenza,  twenty-four  miles  in  length ;  the 
third,  intended  to  cover  an  embarkation,  in  case  of 
necessity,  extended  from  Passo  d'Arcos  on  the  Tagus 
to  the  town  of  Junquera  on  the  coast. 

Massena  spent  some  days  in  surveying  the  British 
position,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  too 
strong  to  be  attacked.  Had  the  order  of  Welling- 
ton been  carried  out,  and  the  whole  country  wasted 
of  provisions,  the  French  army  must  have  made  a 
precipitate  retreat  to  avoid  starvation,  for  <they 
had  no  provisions  or  connection  with  Spain.  Wilson 
and  Trant,  with  Portuguese  levies,  hung  upon  their 
rear,  and  captured  Coimbra,  where  Massena  had  left 
his  sick  and  wounded,  five  thousand  in  number, 
upon  the  very  day  after  the  main  French  army 
advanced  from  that  town.  So  vast  were  the 
supplies,  however,  left  in  the  country  that  Massena 
was  able  to  take  up  his  position,  first  immediately 
in  front  of  the  British  lines,  and  afterward  at 


250  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Santarem,  within  a  day's  march  of  them,  and  to 
maintain  his  army  in  food  throughout  the  winter 
until  the  beginning  of  March. 

"  Have  you  seen  the  Gazette,  Scudamore  ?"  Car- 
ruthers  asked,  rushing  into  the  tent  one  morning 
about  a  week  after  the  regiment  had  settled  down 
in  its  tents  on  the  heights  of  Torres  Vedras. 

"  No ;  what's  up  ?"  Tom  replied. 

"  There  you  are ;  you  have  both  got  your  steps. 
Thomas  Scudamore,  ensign,  Norfolk  Rangers,  to  be 
lieutenant,  for  distinguished  services  in  the  field. 
Peter  Scudamore,  ditto,  ditto.  I  wondered  the 
chief  had  done  nothing  for  you  after  your  journey 
through  Spain." 

"  I  am  sure  I  did  not  expect  anything,"  Tom  an- 
swered, "  and  was  quite  content  when  the  colonel 
told  us  that  Lord  Wellington  had  said  he  was 
pleased  with  the  manner  we  had  done  our  work. 
However,  I  am  very  glad;  but  it  is  not  pleasant 
going  over  five  or  six  fellows'  heads." 

"Fortune  of  war,"  Carruthers  said,  laughing. 
"  Besides,  two  of  them  are  at  the  depot,  Sankey  is 
away  on  sick  leave,  and  none  of  the  three  who  are 
senior  to  you  here  will  ever  set  the  Thames  on  fire. 
No,  no,  you  have  fairly  earned  your  step,  and  no 
one  can  say  a  word  against  it." 

The  news  soon  spread,  and  the  boys  were  heart- 
ily congratulated  by  all  the  officers  of  the  regiment 
on  their  promotion,  which  placed  them  next  on  the 
list  to  Carruthers,  who  had  previously  been  the 
junior  lieutenant.  Promotion  in  those  days  was 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  251 

rapid,  and  after  a  severe  engagement  an  ensign 
only  joined  upon  the  previous  week  might  find  him- 
self a  lieutenant,  from  the  number  of  death  vacan- 
cies caused  in  the  ranks  above  him.  The  Norfolk 
Rangers  had  not  suffered  heavily  at  Talavera,  or 
the  boys  might  have  had  their  lieutenant's  rank  be- 
fore this  without  performing  any  exceptional 
services. 

"  I  \vish  we  could  get  two  months'  leave,  Tom," 
Peter  said  that  night.  "  Of  course  it  is  impossible, 
but  it  would  be  jolly  to  drop  in  .upon  Rhoda.  By 
her  letter  she  seems  well  and  happy,  and  aunt  is 
very  kind  to  her.  It  would  be  nice  ;  and  now  we 
are  lieutenants,  aunt  wouldn't  tell  us  to  rub  our 
shoes." 

"  No,"  Tom  laughed,  "  or  be  afraid  of  our  pelting 
her  pigeons  and  Minnie." 

"No,"  Peter  said.  "Evidently  she  is  coming 
round.  Rhoda  said  that  since  she  has  heard  we 
have  got  our  commissions  she  has  given  up  prophe- 
sying once  or  twice  a  day  that  we  shall  come  to  a 
bad  end — probably  hanging." 

"  Yes,  and  Rhoda  said  in  her  letter  yesterday 
that  aunt  was  quite  touched  with  those  lace  man- 
tillas we  got  at  Madrid,  and  sent  off  the  day  after 
we  rejoined,  and  actually  remarked  that,  although 
we  could  no  longer  be  looked  upon  as  boys,  and 
seemed  really  as  hairbrained  and  fond  of  getting 
into  scrapes  as  ever,  yet  it  was  evident  that  we 
were  good,  kindly  lads,  and  meant  well  at  heart." 

"I   wish,"   Tom  said,   with   a  sudden  burst  of 


252  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

laughter,  "  that  we  could  dress  in  our  old  disguises, 
I  as  a  student  of  theology,  you  as  a  mild  young 
novice ;  what  a  lark  we  would  have  with  her!"  and 
the  boys  went  off  into  such  shouts  of  laughter  that 
their  aunt  would  have  thought  them  more  scatter- 
brained than  ever  if  she  had  heard  them,  while 
from  the  tent  of  Captain  Manley  on  one  side,  and 
of  Carruthers  and  another  young  officer  on  the 
other,  came  indignant  expostulations,  and  entreaties 
that  they  would  keep  quiet,  and  let  other  people  go 
to  sleep. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  253 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

AT.~Rrnr.TtA, 

VERY  heavily  did  the  five  months  in  the  lines  of 
Torres  Yedras  pass  to  the  Norfolk  Eangers.  When, 
in  the  beginning  of  November,  Massena  fell  back  to 
Santarem,  the  greater  portion  of  the  army  followed 
him  in  readiness  for  attack  should  any  openings  be 
found.  Massena,  however,  intrenched  himself  in  a 
very  strong  position,  and  "Wellington  could  no  more 
attack  him  than  he  could  attack  the  lines  of  Torres 
Yedras ;  so  that  both  armies  faced  each  other  in 
inactivity  until  the  beginning  of  March,  when  Mas- 
sena broke  up  his  camp  and  began  to  retreat. 

The  Norfolk  Rangers  had  been  one  of  the  regi- 
ments which  had  remained  in  their  quarters  on 
Torres  Yedras  throughout  the  winter,  and  great 
was  the  joy  with  which  they  received  orders  to 
strike  their  tents  and  push  on  in  pursuit.  The 
retreat  of  Massena  was  masterly.  Ney's  division 
covered  the  rear,  and  several  sharp  fights  took  place 
which  are  known  in  history  as  the  combats  of 
Pombal,  Redinha,  Cazal  Nova,  Foz  d'Aronce,  and 
Sabugal. 


254  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

In  most  of  these  the  enemy  were  driven  from 
their  position  Toy  the  British  outflanking  them  and 
threatening  their  line  of  retreat ;  but  in  the  last,  by 
a  mistake  of  General  Erskine,  a  portion  of  his 
division  attacked  the  enemy  in  rear,  and,  al- 
though vastly  outnumbered,  drove  him  off  from  the 
crest  he  held  with  desperate  valor.  Wellington 
himself  said,  "This  was  one  of  the  most  glorious 
actions  British  troops  were  ever  engaged  in." 

The  next  day  the  French  crossed  the  Coa  and 
Turones,  and  took  up  their  position  under  the  guns 
of  Ciudad  Rodrigo,  which  they  had  left  six  months 
before  with  the  full  assurance  that  they  were  going 
to  conquer  Portugal,  and  drive  the  British  into  the 
sea.  The  invasion  cost  Massena  thirty  thousand 
men,  killed  in  battle,  taken  prisoners,  or  dead  from 
hardships,  fatigues,  and  fevers. 

The  Scudamores  were  not  present  at  the  battle  of 
Sabugal,  for  on  the  afternoon  after  the  combat  of 
Foz  d'Aronce  an  orderly  rode  up  to  the  regiment 
and  handed  a  note  to  the  colonel.  He  read  it,  and 
at  once  summoned  the  Scudamores  to  his  side. 

"  An  order  from  the  commander-in-chief,"  he  said, 
"  for  you  to  go  to  him  at  once." 

Following  the  orderly,  the  boys  soon  arrived  at 
the  cottage  at  which  Lord  Wellington  had  estab- 
lished his  headquarters. 

"  His  lordship  is  with  Lord  Beresford,"  the  aid- 
de-camp  to  whom  they  gave  their  names  said,  "  but 
the  orders  are  that  you  are  to  be  shown  in  at  once." 

The  lads  were  ushered  into  a  small  room,  where, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  255 

seated  at  a  table,  were  the  commanders-in-chief 
of  the  British  and  the  Portuguese  troops. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  the  former  said,  looking  up 
with  his  keen,  piercing  eyes,  "  I  have  not  seen  you 
since  your  return  from  Spain.  I  am  content  with 
what  you  did,  and  with  the  detailed  report  you  sent 
me  in.  I  shall  keep  my  eye  upon  you.  Lord 
Beresford  has  asked  me  for  two  officers  as  aids-de- 
camp, and  he  specially  requires  them  to  have  a  per- 
fect knowledge  of  Spanish.  I  have  mentioned  your 
names  to  him.  It  is  not  often  that  I  confidently 
recommend  young  officers,  but  from  what  I  know 
of  you  I  have  felt  able  to  do  so  in  the  present  case. 
You  will,  with  him,  have  opportunities  of  dis- 
tinguishing yourselves  such  as  you  could  not  have 
with  your  regiment.  You  accept  the  appoint- 
ments?" 

Tom  and  Peter  would  far  rather  have  remained 
with  their  regiment,  but  they  felt  that  after  what 
Lord  Wellington  had  said  they  could  not  refuse ; 
they  consequently  expressed  at  once  their  willing- 
ness to  serve,  and  their  thanks  to  the  general  for 
his  kindness  in  recommending  them. 

"  You  can  ride,  I  hope  ?"  Lord  Beresford,  a  pow- 
erfully-built, pleasant-looking  man  said. 

"  Yes,  sir,  we  can  both  ride,  but  at  present " 

"  You  have  no  horses,  of  course  ?"  Lord  Beresford 
put  in.  "  I  will  provide  you  with  horses,  and  will 
assign  servants  to  you  from  one  of  the  cavalry  regi- 
ments with  me.  Will  you  join  me  at  daybreak  to- 
morrow ?  We  shall  march  at  once." 


256  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

There  was  a  general  expression  of  regret  when 
the  Scudamores  informed  their  comrades  that  they 
were  again  ordered  on  detached  duty.  As  to  Sam, 
when  Tom  told  him  that  he  could  not  accompany 
them,  he  was  uproarious  in  his  lamentations,  and 
threatened  to  desert  from  his  regiment  in  order  to 
follow  them.  At  this  the  boys  laughed,  and  told 
Sam  that  he  would  be  arrested  and  sent  back  before 
he  had  gone  six  hours. 

"  I  tink,  Massa  Tom,  dat  you  might  hab  told  de 
general  dat  you  hab  got  an  fust-class  serbant,  and 
dat  you  bring  him  wid  you." 

"  But  we  shall  be  mounted  now,  Sam,  and  must 
have  mounted  men  with  us.  You  can't  ride,  you 
know." 

"  Yes,  massa,  dis  child  ride  first-rate,  he  can." 

"  Why,  Sam,  I  heard  you  say  not  long  ago  you 
had  never  ridden  on  a  horse  all  your  life." 

"  Never  hab,  massa,  dat's  true  'nuff ;  but  Sam 
sure  he  can  ride.  Bery  easy  ting  dat.  Sit  on 
saddle,  one  leg  each  side — not  bery  difficult  dat. 
Sam  see  tousand  soldiers  do  dat  ebery  day ;  dey  sit 
quite  easy  on  saddle  ;  much  more  easy  dat  dan  beat 
big  drum." 

The  boys  laughed  heartily  at  Sam's  notion  of 
riding  without  practice,  and  assured  him  that  it  was 
not  so  easy  as  he  imagined. 

"  Look  here,  Sam,"  Peter  said  at  last,  "  you  prac- 
tice riding  a  little,  and  then  next  time  we  get  away 
we  will  ask  for  you  to  go  with  us."  And  with  this 
Sam  was  obliged  to  be  content. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  257 

Half  an  hour  later  when  the  boys  were  chatting 
with  Captain  Manley,  Carruthers,  and  two  or  three 
other  officers,  in  the  tent  of  the  first-named  officer, 
they  heard  a  commotion  outside,  with  shouts  of 
laughter,  in  which  they  joined  as  soon  as  they  went 
out  and  saw  what  was  going  on. 

Sam,  upon  leaving  the  Scudarnores,  determined 
at  once  upon  trying  the  experiment  of  riding,  in 
order  that  he  might — for  he  had  no  doubt  all  would 
be  easy  enough — ride  triumphantly  up  to  his  mas- 
ters' tent  and  prove  his  ability  to  accompany  them 
at  once.  He  was  not  long  before  he  saw  a  muleteer 
coming  along  sitting  carelessly  on  his  mule,  with 
both  legs  on  one  side  of  the  animal,  side-saddle 
fashion,  as  is  the  frequent  custom  of  muleteers.  It 
was  evident,  by  the  slowness  of  his  pace,  that  he 
was  not  pressed  for  time. 

Sam  thought  that  this  was  a  fine  opportunity. 

"  Let  me  have  a  ride  ?"  he  said  to  the  muleteer  in 
broken  Portuguese. 

The  man  shook  his  head.  Sam  held  out  a  quarter 
of  a  dollar.  "  There,"  he  said,  "  I'll  give  you  that 
for  an  hour's  ride." 

The  muleteer  hesitated,  and  then  said:  "The 
mule  is  very  bad-tempered  with  strangers." 

"  Oh,  dat  all  nonsense,"  Sam  thought ;  "  he  only 
pretend  dat  as  excuse ;  any  one  can  see  de 
creature  as  quiet  as  lamb ;  don't  he  let  his  master 
sit  on  him  sideways  ?" 

"  All  right,"  he  said  aloud  ;  "  I  try  him." 

The  muleteer  dismounted,  and  Sam  prepared  to 


258  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

take  his  place  on  the  saddle.  By  this  time  several 
of  the  Hangers  had  gathered  round,  and  these  fore- 
seeing, from  the  appearance  of  the  mule  and  the 
look  of  sly  amusement  in  the  face  of  the  muleteer, 
that  there  was  likely  to  be  some  fun,  at  once  pro- 
posed to  assist,  which  they  did  by  giving  advice  to 
Sam  of  the  most  opposite  nature.  Sam  was  first 
going  to  mount  on  the  off-side,  but  this  irregularity 
was  repressed,  and  one  wag,  taking  the  stirrup  oi 
the  near  side  in  his  hand,  said,  "Now,  Sam,  up  you 
go ;  never  mind  what  these  fellows  say ;  you  put 
your  right  foot  in  the  stirrup,  and  lift  your  left  over 
the  saddle." 

Sam  acted  according  to  these  instructions,  and 
found  himself,  to  his  intense  amazement  and  the  de- 
light of  the  bystanders,  sitting  with  his  face  to  the 
mule's  tail. 

"  Hullo,"  he  exclaimed  in  astonishment,  "  dis  all 
wrong;  you  know  noting  about  de  business,  you 
Bill  Atkins." 

And  Sam  prepared  to  descend,  whens  at  his  first 
movement,  the  mule  put  down  his  head  and  flung 
his  heels  high  in  the  air.  Sam  instinctively  threw 
himself  forward,  but,  not  recovering  his  upright 
position  before  the  mule  again  flung  up  her  hind 
quarters,  he  received  a  violent  blow  on  the  nose. 
"  Golly !"  exclaimed  the  black  in  a  tone  of  extreme 
anguish,  as,  with  water  streaming  from  his  eyes,  he 
instinctively  clutched  the  first  thing  which  came  to 
hand,  the  root  of  the  mule's  tail,  and  held  on  like 
grim  death.  The  astonished  mule  lashed  out  wildly 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  259 

and  furiously ;  but  Sam,  with  his  body  laid  close  on 
her  back,  his  hands  grasping  her  tail,  and  his  legs 
and  feet  pressing  tight  to  her  flanks,  held  on  with 
the  clutch  of  despair. 

"  Seize  de  debil ! — seize  him ! — he  gone  mad  !"  he 
shouted  frantically ;  but  the  soldiers  were  in  such 
fits  of  laughter  that  they  could  do  nothing. 

Then  the  mule,  finding  that  he  could  not  get  rid 
of  this  singular  burden  by  kicking,  started  suddenly 
off  at  full  gallop. 

"  Stop  him  ! — stop  him  !"  yelled  Sam.  "  Gracious 
me  !  dis  am  drefful." 

This  was  the  sight  which  met  the  eyes  of  the  Scud- 
amores  and  their  brother  officers  as  they  issued  from 
their  tents.  The  soldiers  were  all  out  of  their  tents 
now,  and  the  air  rang  with  laughter  mingled  with 
shouts  of,  "  Go  it,  moke !"  "  Hold  on,  Sam  !" 

"  Stop  that  mule,"  Captain  Manley  shouted,  "  or 
the  man  will  be  killed." 

Several  soldiers  ran  to  catch  at  the  bridle,  but  the 
mule  swerved  and  dashed  away  out  of  camp  along 
the  road. 

"  Look,  look,"  Tom  said,  "  there  are  the  staff,  and 
Lord  Wellington  among  them.  The  mule's  going 
to  charge  them." 

The  road  was  somewhat  narrow,  with  a  wall  of 
four  feet  high  on  either  side,  and  the  general,  who 
was  riding  at  the  head  of  the  party,  drew  his  rein 
when  he  saw  the  mule  coming  along  at  a  furious 
gallop.  The  staff  did  the  same,  and  a  general  shout 
was  raised  to  check  or  divert  her  wild  career.  The 


260  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

obstinate  brute,  however,  maddened  by  the  shouts 
which  had  greeted  her  from  all  sides,  and  the 
strange  manner  in  which  she  was  being  ridden, 
never  swerved  from  her  course.  When  she  was 
within  five  yards  of  the  party  the  general  turned 
his  horse,  touched  him  with  his  spur,  and  leaped 
him  lightly  over  the  wall ;  one  or  two  others  fol- 
lowed his  example,  but  the  others  had  not  time  to 
do  so  before  the  mule  was  among  them.  Two 
horses  and  riders  were  thrown  down,  one  on  either 
side,  with  the  impetus  of  the  shock,  and  then,  kick- 
ing, striking  and  charging,  the  animal  made  its  way 
past  the  others  and  dashed  on  in  despite  of  the 
attempts  to  stop  her,  and  the  cries  of  "  Shoot  the 
brute,"  "  Kide  him  down,"  and  the  angry  ejacula- 
tions of  those  injured  in  its  passage.  Thirty  yards 
behind  the  group  of  officers  were  the  escort,  and 
these  prepared  to  catch  the  mule,  when,  turning  to 
to  the  left,  she  leaped,  the  wall,  eliciting  a  scream 
of  terror  from  Sam,  who  was  nearly  shaken  from 
his  hold  by  the  sudden  jerk. 

The  anger  of  the  officers  was  changed  into  a  burst 
of  amusement  at  seeing  Sam's  dark  face  and  staring 
eyes  over  the  mule's  crupper,  and  even  Lord  Wel- 
lington smiled  grimly.  An  order  was  hastily  given, 
and  four  troopers  detached  themselves  from  the 
escort  and  started  off  in  pursuit.  The  mule  was, 
however,  a  fast  one,  and  maddened  by  fright,  and  it 
was  some  time  before  the  foremost  of  the  troopers 
was  up  to  her.  As  he  came  alongside  the  mule 
suddenly  swerved  round  and  lashed  out  viciously, 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  $61 

one  of  her  heels  coming  against  the  horse's  ribs,  and 
the  other  against  the  leg  of  the  rider,  who,  in  spite 
of  his  thick  jack-boot,  for  some  time  thought  that 
his  leg  was  broken. 

He  fell  behind,  and  the  others,  rendered  cautious 
by  the  lesson,  came  up  but  slowly,  and  prepared  to 
close  upon  the  animal's  head,  one  from  each  side. 
Just  as  they  were  going  to  do  so,  however,  they 
were  startled  by  a  scattered  fire  of  musketry  and 
by  the  sound  of  balls  whizzing  about  their  ears,  and 
discovered  that  in  the  ardor  of  the  chase  they  had 
passed  over  the  space  which  separated  the-  French 
from  the  English  lines,  and  that  they  were  close  to 
the  former.  At  the  same  moment  they  saw  a  party 
of  cavalry  stealing  round  to  cut  off  their  retreat. 
Turning  their  horses,  the  dragoons  rode  off  at  full 
speed,  but  the  French  cavalry,  on  fresher  horses, 
would  have  caught  them  before  they  reached  the 
English  lines  had  not  a  troop  of  British  horse  dashed 
forward  to  meet  them  upon  seeing  their  danger. 
As  to  the  mule,  she  continued  her  wild  gallop  into 
the  French  lines,  where  she  was  soon  surrounded 
and  captured. 

The  boys  were  greatly  vexed  at  the  loss  of  their 
faithful  black,  but  they  had  little  time  for  grieving, 
for  an  hour  later  they  rode  off  with  General  Beres- 
ford's  division.  Three  days'  march  brought  them 
to  Campo  Mayor,  a  town  which  had  two  days  be- 
fore surrendered  to  the  French,  who,  surprised  by 
the  sudden  appearance  of  the  British,  evacuated  the 
place  hastily  and  retreated,  after  suffering  much 


262  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

from  a  brilliant  charge  of  the  Thirteenth  Hussars, 
who,  although  unsupported,  charged  right  through 
the  French  cavalry,  and  Beresford  then  prepared  to 
lay  siege  to  Badajos.  Had  he  pushed  forward  at 
once  he  would  have  found  the  place  unprepared  for 
a  siege,  but,  delaying  a  few  days  at  Elvas  to  give 
his  tired  troops  repose,  the  French  repaired  the 
walls,  and  were  in  a  position  to  offer  a  respectable 
defense,  when  he  made  his  appearance  under  its 
walls.  The  army  was  very  badly  provided  with 
heavy  guns,  but  the  approaches  were  opened  and 
the  siege  commenced  in  regular  form,  when  the 
news  arrived  that  Soult  was  marching  with  a  pow- 
erful army  to  its  relief.  The  guns  were  therefore 
withdrawn,  the  siege  raised,  and  Beresford  marched 
to  meet  Soult  at  Albuera. 

On  the  15th  of  May  he  took  up  his  position  on 
rising  ground  looking  down  on  Albuera,  having  the 
river  in  his  front.  Acting  with  him,  and  nominally 
under  his  orders,  was  a  Spanish  force  under  Blake. 
This  was  intended  to  occupy  the  right  of  the  posi- 
tion, but  with  the  usual  Spanish  dilatoriness,  instead 
of  being  upon  the  ground,  as  he  had  promised,  by 
noon,  Blake  did  not  arrive  until  past  midnight;  the 
French  accordingly  crossed  the  river  unmolested, 
and  the  British  general  found  his  right  turned. 

Beresford's  position  was  now  a  very  faulty  one, 
as  the  woods  completely  hid  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  and  a  high  hill,  which  they  had  at  once 
seized,  flanked  the  whole  allied  position  and  threat- 
ened its  line  of  retreat. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  263 

"When  the  morning  of  the  16th  dawned  the  armies 
were  numerically  very  unequal.  The  British  had 
thirty  thousand  infantry,  two  thousand  cavalry,  and 
thirty-eight  guns;  the  French,  nineteen  thousand 
infantry,  four  thousand  cavalry,  and  forty  guns ; 
but  of  these  the  French  were  all  veteran  troops, 
while  Beresf  ord  had  but  six  thousand  British  troops, 
the  remainder  being  Spanish  and  Portuguese,  upon 
whom  no  reliance  whatever  was  to  be  placed.  The 
British  officers  present  were  all  of  opinion  that  their 
chances  of  success,  under  the  circumstances,  were 
slight  indeed. 

The  battle  commenced  at  nine  in  the  morning  by 
an  attack  by  the  French  general  Godinot  upon  the 
bridge  of  Albuera.  Their  columns  were,  however, 
so  completely  plowed  by  the  guns  of  the  Portu- 
guese upon  the  eminence  behind  it  that  they  made 
no  progress,  and  Beresford  perceived  at  once  that 
the  main  attack  would  be  made  on  his  right.  He 
dispatched  Tom  Scudamore  with  orders  to  Blake  to 
throw  back  his  troops  at  right  angles  to  the  main 
front.  The  pig-headed  Spaniard  refused  to  obey, 
asserting  that  the  main  attack  was  in  front.  Colonel 
Hardinge  was  sent  to  insist  upon  the  order  being 
carried  out,  but  Blake  still  refused,  and  Beresford 
himself  rode  furiously  across  and  took  the  command 
just  as  the  French  column  debouched  from  the  wood 
on  the  right. 

Before  the  Spanish  movement  was  completed  the 
French  were  among  them.  Their  cavalry  swept 
round  to  the  right  rear,  and  menaced  the  line  of  re- 


264  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

treat,  the  infantry  charged  the  wavering  Spanish 
battalions,  and  the  latter  at  once  fell  into  confusion 
and  began  to  fall  back.  William  Stewart  now 
arrived  with  a  brigade  of  the  second  division  to  en- 
deavor to  retrieve  the  day ;  but  as  they  were  ad- 
vancing into  position,  four  regiments  of  French 
cavalry,  whose  movements  were  hidden  in  the  driv- 
ing rain  until  they  were  close  at  hand,  fell  upon 
them  and  rode  down  two-thirds  of  the  brigade,  the 
Thirty-first  Kegiment  alone  having  time  to  form 
square  and  repulse  the  horsemen. 

Beresford  himself,  with  his  staff,  was  in  the  middle 
of  the  melee,  and  the  lads  found  themselves  engaged 
in  hand-to-hand  combats  with  the  French  troopers. 
All  was  confusion.  Peter  was  unhorsed  by  the 
shock  of  a  French  hussar,  but  Tom  shot  the  trooper 
before  he  could  cut  Peter  down.  Free  for  a  moment 
he  looked  round,  and  saw  a  French  lancer  charging, 
lance  at  rest,  at  Lord  Beresford.  "  Look  out,  sir  !" 
he  shouted,  and  the  general,  turning  round,  swept 
aside  the  lance  thrust  with  his  arm ;  and  as  the 
lancer,  carried  on  by  the  impetus  of  his  charge, 
dashed  against  him,  he  seized  him  by  the  throat  and 
waist,  lifted  him  bodily  from  his  saddle,  and  hurled 
him  insensible  to  the  ground.  Just  at  this  moment 
General  Lumley  arrived  with  some  Portuguese 
cavalry,  and  the  French  lancers  galloped  off. 

The  Spanish  cavalry,  who  had  orders  to  charge 
the  French  cavalry  in  flank,  galloped  up  until  within 
a  few  yards  of  them,  and  then  turned  and  fled 
shamefully 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  265 

Beresford,  now  furious  at  the  cowardice  of  the 
Spanish  infantry,  seized  one  of  their  ensigns  by  the 
shoulder,  and  dragged  him,  with  his  colors,  to  the 
front  by  main  force,  but  the  infantry  would  not 
even  then  advance. 

The  driving  rain  saved  the  allied  army  at  this 
critical  moment,  for  Soult  was  unable  to  see  the  ter- 
rible confusion  which  reigned  in  their  ranks,  and 
kept  his  heavy  columns  in  hand  when  an  attack 
would  have  carried  with  it  certain  victory. 

In  the  pause  which  ensued  the. British  regiments 
began  to  make  their  way  to  the  front.  Colbourn, 
with  the  Thirty-first  Regiment,  was  already  there  ; 
Stewart  brought  up  Haughton's  brigade ;  and  the 
Twenty-ninth  burst  its  way  through  the  flying 
Spaniards  and  joined  the  Thirty-first,  these  move- 
ments being  made  under  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell 
from  the  French  artillery.  Colonel  Hartman 
brought  up  the  British  artillery,  and  the  Spanish 
Generals  Zayas  and  Ballesteros  succeeded  in  check- 
ing and  bringing  forward  again  some  of  the  Spanish 
infantry. 

The  French  advanced  in  great  force,  the  artillery 
on  both  sides  poured  in  grape  at  short  distance,  and 
the  carnage  was  terrible.  Still  the  little  band  of 
British  held  their  ground.  Stewart  was  twice 
wounded,  Haughton  and  Colonels  Duckworth  and 
Inglis  slain.  Of  the  Fifty-seventh  Regiment  twenty- 
two  officers  and  four  hundred  men  fell  out  of  the 
five  hundred  that  had  mounted  the  hill,  and  the 
other  regiments  had  suffered  nearly  as  severely.  Not 


266  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

a  third  were  standing  unhurt,  and  fresh  columns  of 
the  French  were  advancing. 

The  battle  looked  desperate,  and  Beresford  made 
preparations  for  a  retreat.  At  this  moment,  how- 
ever, Colonel  Hardinge  brought  up  General  Cole 
Avith  the  fourth  division,  and  Colonel  Abererombie 
with  the  third  brigade  of  Colbourn's  second  division. 
Beresford  recalled  his  order  for  retreat,  ami  the 
terrible  fight  continued.  The  fourth  division  \\-.\ 
composed  of  two  brigades,  the  one,  a  Portuguese 
under  General  Harvey,  was  pushed  down  to  the 
right  to  keep  off  the  French  cavalry,  while  the 
Fusilier  brigade,  composed  of  the  Seventh  and 
Twenty-third  Fusilier  Kegiments,  under  Sir  Will- 
iam Myers,  climbed  the  desperately  contested  hill, 
which  Abercrombie  ascended  also,  more  on  the 
left. 

It  was  time,  for  the  whole  of  the  French  reserves 
were  now  coming  into  action  ;  six  guns  were  already 
in  the  enemy's  possession,  the  remnant  of  Haugh  ton's 
brigade  could  no  longer  sustain  its  ground,  and  the 
heavy  French  columns  were  advancing  exultantly  to 
assured  victory. 

Suddenly,  through  the  smoke,  Cole's  Fusilier 
brigade  appeared  on  the  right  of  Haughton's  brigade, 
just  as  Abercrombie  came  up  on  its  left.  Startled 
by  the  sight,  and  by  the  heavy  lire,  the  French 
column  paused,  and,  to  quote  Napier's  glowing 
words,  "  hesitated,  and  then,  vomiting  forth  a  storm 
of  fire,  hastily  endeavored  to  enlarge  their  front, 
while  a  fearful  discharge  of  grape  from  all  their 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  267 

artillery  whistled  through  the  British  ranks.  Myers 
was  killed,  Cole  and  the  three  colonels,  Ellis,  Blake- 
ney  and  Hawkshawe,  fell  wounded ;  and  the  Fusilier 
battalions,  struck  by  the  iron  tempest,  reeled  and 
staggered  like  sinking  ships;  but  suddenly  and 
sternly  recovering,  they  closed  with  their  terrible 
enemies,  and  then  was  seen  with  what  a  strength 
and  majesty  the  British  soldier  fights.  In  vain  did 
Soult  with  voice  and  gesture  animate  his  French- 
men ;  in  vain  did  the  hardiest  veterans  break  from 
the  crowded  columns  and  sacrifice  their  lives  to  gain 
time  for  the  mass  to  open  out  on  such  a  fair  field ; 
in  vain  did  the  mass  itself  bear  up,  and,  fiercely 
striving,  fire  indiscriminately  upon  friends  and  foes, 
while  the  horsemen  hovering  on  its  flank  threatened 
to  charge  the  advancing  line.  Nothing  could  stop 
that  astonishing  infantry ;  no  sudden  burst  of  un- 
disciplined valor,  no  nervous  enthusiasm  weakened 
the  stability  of  their  order  ;  their  flashing  eyes  were 
bent  on  the  dark  columns  in  their  front,  their  mea- 
sured tread  shook  the  ground,  their  dreadful  volleys 
swept  away  the  head  of  every  formation,  their 
deafening  shouts  overpowered  the  dissonant  cries 
that  broke  from  all  parts  of  the  tumultuous  crowd, 
as,  slowly  and  with  horrid  carnage,  it  was  pushed 
by  the  incessant  vigor  of  the  attack  to  the  furthest 
edge  of  the  hill.  In  vain  did  the  French  reserves 
mix  with  the  struggling  multitude  to  sustain  the 
fight ;  their  efforts  only  increased  the  irremediable 
confusion,  and  the  mighty  mass  breaking  off  like  a 
loosened  cliff,  went  headlong  down  the  steep ;  the 


268  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

rain  flowed  after  in  streams  discolored  with  blood, 
and  eighteen  hundred  unwounded  men,  the  remnant 
of  six  thousand  unconquerable  British  soldiers, 
stood  triumphant  on  the  fatal  hill." 

While  this  dreadful  fight  was  going  on  Hamil- 
ton's and  Collier's  Portuguese  divisions,  ten  thou- 
sand strong,  marched  to  support  the  British,  but 
they  did  not  reach  the  summit  of  the  hill  until  the 
battle  was  over;  they  suffered,  however,  a  good 
deal  of  loss  from  the  French  artillery,  which,  to 
cover  the  retreat,  opened  furiously  upon  them. 

The  French  were  in  no  position  to  renew  the 
attack,  the  allies  quite  incapable  of  pursuit,  and 
when  night  fell  the  two  armies  were  in  the  same 
position  they  had  occupied  twenty-four  hours  before. 

Never  was  British  valor  more  conspicuously  dis- 
played than  at  the  battle  of  Albuera.  Out  of  six 
thousand  infantry,  they  lost  forty-two  hundred 
killed  and  wounded,  while  the  Spanish  and  Portu- 
guese had  but  twenty-six  hundred  killed  and 
wounded  out  of  a  total  of  thirty-four  thousand  ;  the 
French  loss  was  over  eight  thousand. 

This  desperate  fight  had  lasted  but  four  hours, 
but  to  all  engaged  it  seemed  an  age.  The  din,  the 
whirl,  the  storm  of  shot,  the  fierce  charges  of  the 
cavalry,  the  swaying  backward  and  forward  of 
the  fight,  the  disastrous  appearance  of  the  battle 
from  frhe  first,  all  combined  to  make  up  a  perfectly 
bewildering  confusion. 

The  Scudamores,  after  its  commencement,  had 
seen  but  little  of  each  other.  Whenever  one  or 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  269 

other  of  them  found  their  way  to  the  general,  who 
was  ever  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray,  it  was  but  to 
remain  there  for  a  moment  or  two  before  being 
dispatched  with  fresh  messages. 

Tom's  horse  was  shot  under  him  early  in  the  day, 
but  he  obtained  a  remount  from  an  orderly  and  con- 
tinued his  duty  until,  just  as  the  day  was  won,  he 
received  a  musket  ball  in  the  shoulder.  He  half 
fell,  half  dismounted,  and,  giddy  and  faint,  lay 
down  and  remained  there  until  the  cessation  of  the 
fire  told  him  that  the  battle  was  over.  Then  he 
staggered  to  his  feet  and  sought  a  surgeon.  He 
presently  found  one  hard  at  work  under  a  tree,  but 
there  was  so  large  a  number  of  wounded  men  lying 
or  sitting  round,  that  Tom  saw  that  it  would  be 
hours  before  he  could  be  attended  to.  As  he  turned 
to  go  he  saw  an  officer  of  the  staif  ride  by. 

"  Ah,  Scudamore !  Are  you  hit  too  ? — not  very 
badly,  I  hope?  The  chief  was  asking  after  you 
just  now." 

"  My  shoulder  is  smashed,  I  think,"  Tom  said, 
"  and  the  doctor  has  his  hands  full  at  present ;  but 
if  you  will  tie  my  arm  tight  across  my  chest  with 
my  sash,  I  shall  be  able  to  get  on." 

The  officer  at  once  leaped  from  his  horse,  and 
proceeded  to  bind  Tom's  arm  in  the  position  he 
requested. 

"  Have  you  seen  my  brother,"  Tom  asked. 

"  No,  I  have  not ;  he  was  close  to  Beresford  when 
the  Fusiliers  dashed  up  the  hill ;  his  horse  fell  dead, 
but  he  was  not  hit,  for  I  saw  him  jump  up  all  right. 


270  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

I  did  not  see  him  afterward.  As  he  could  not  have 
got  a  fresh  mount  then,  I  expect  he  joined  the 
Fusiliers  and  went  up  the  hill." 

"  Is  the  loss  heavy  ?"  Tom  asked. 

"Awful — awful,"  the  officer  said.  "If  it  had 
lasted  another  quarter  of  an  hour,  there  would  have 
been  nobody  left  alive  ;  as  it  is,  there  are  not  two 
thousand  men  at  the  outside  on  their  feet." 

"  What,  altogether  ?"  Tom  exclaimed. 

"  Altogether,"  the  officer  answered  sadly.  "  We 
have  lost  two  men  out  of  every  three  who  went 
into  it." 

"  Thank  you,"  Tom  said.  u  Now  where  shall  I 
find  the  general  ?" 

"  Up  on  the  hill.  I  shall  see  you  there  in  a  few 
minutes.  I  hope  you  will  find  your  brother  all 
right." 

Very  slowly  did  Tom  make  his  way  up  the  steep 
slope,  sitting  down  to  rest  many  times,  for  he  was 
faint  from  loss  of  blood  and  sick  with  the  pain  of 
his  wound,  and  it  was  a  long  half  hour  before  he 
joined  the  group  of  officers  clustered  round  the 
commander-in-chief. 

He  was  heartily  greeted;  but  in  answer  to  his 
question  as  to  whether  any  one  had  seen  his  brother, 
no  one  could  give  a  satisfactory  reply.  One,  how- 
ever, was  able  to  confirm  what  had  been  before  told 
him,  for  he  had  seen  Peter  on  foot  advancing  with 
the  fusilier  brigade.  Tom's  heart  felt  very  heavy 
as  he  turned  away  toward  the  front,  where  the 
Fusiliers  were  standing  on  the  ground  they  had  so 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  271 

hardly  won.  The  distance  he  had  to  traverse  was 
but  short,  but  the  journey  \vas  a  ghastly  one.  The 
ground  was  literally  heaped  with  dead.  Wounded 
men  were  seen  sitting  np  trying  to  stanch  their 
wounds,  others  lay  feebly  groaning,  while  soldiers 
were  hurrying  to  and  fro  from  the  water  carts, 
with  pannikins  of  water  to  relieve  their  agonizing 
thirst. 

"  Do  you  know,  sergeant  whether  they  have  col- 
lected the  wounded  officers,  and,  if  so,  where  they 
are  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  most  of  them  are  there  at  the  right 
flank  of  the  regiment." 

Tom  made  his  way  toward  the  spot  indicated, 
where  a  small  group  of  officers  were  standing, 
while  a  surgeon  was  examining  a  long  line  of 
wounded  laid  side  by  side  upon  the  ground.  Tom 
hardly  breathed  as  he  ran  his  eye  along  their  faces, 
and  his  heart  seemed  to  stop  as  he  recognized  in  the 
very  one  the  surgeon  was  then  examining  the  dead- 
white  face  of  Peter. 

He  staggered  forward  and  said  in  a  gasping  voice, 
"  He  is  my  brother — is  he  dead  ?" 

The  surgeon  looked  up.  "  Sit  down,"  he  said 
sharply,  and  Tom,  unable  to  resist  the  order,  sank 
rather  than  sat  down,  his  eyes  still  riveted  on 
Peter's  face. 

"  No,"  the  surgeon  said,  answering  the  question, 
"he  has  only  fainted  from  loss  of  blood,  but  he  is 
hit  hard,  the  bullet  has  gone  in  just  above  the  hip, 
and  until  I  know  its  course  I  can't  say  whether  be 
has  a  chance  or  not." 


272  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Here,  sergeant,  give  me  the  probe,"  and  with 
this  he  proceeded  cautiously  to  examine  the  course 
of  the  ball.  As  he  did  so  his  anxious  face  bright- 
ened a  little. 

"  He  was  struck  slantingly,"  he  said,  "  the  ball 
has  gone  round  by  the  back;  turn  him  over,  sergeant. 
Ah,  I  thought  so  ;  it  has  gone  out  on  the  other  side. 
"Well,  I  think  it  has  missed  any  vital  part,  and  in 
that  case  I  can  give  you  hope.  There,"  he  said 
after  he  had  finished  dressing  the  wound  and  fas- 
tening a  bandage  tightly  round  the  body ;  "now 
pour  some  brandy-and- water  down  his  throat,  ser- 
geant, and  sprinkle  his  face  with  water.  Now,  sir, 
I  will  look  at  your  shoulder." 

But  he  spoke  to  insensible  ears,  for  Tom,  upon 
hearing  the  more  favorable  report  as  to  Peter's 
state,  had  fainted  dead  off. 

The  surgeon  glanced  at  him.  "  He'll  come  round 
all  right,"  he  said.  "  I  will  go  in  the  meantime," 
and  he  set  to  work  at  the  next  in  the  ghastly  line. 

It  was  some  time  before  Tom  recovered  his  con- 
sciousness; when  he  did  so  it  was  with  a  feeling  of 
intense  agony  in  the  shoulder. 

"  Lie  quiet,"  the  surgeon  said,  "  I  shan't  be  long 
about  it." 

It  seemed  to  Tom,  nevertheless,  as  if  an  inter- 
minable time  passed  before  the  surgeon  spoke  again. 

"You'll  do,"  he  said.  "It  is  an  awkward  shot, 
for  it  has  broken  the  shoulder  bone  and  carried  a 
portion  away,  but  with  quiet  and  care  you  will  get 
the  use  of  your  arm  again.  You  are  lucky,  for  if  it 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  273 

had  gone  two  inches  to  the  left  it  would  have 
smashed  the  arm  at  the  socket,  and  two  inches  the 
other  way  and  it  would  have  been  all  up  with  you. 
Now  lie  quiet  for  awhile ;  you  can  do  nothing  for 
your  brother  at  present.  It  may  be  hours  before  he 
recovers  consciousness." 

Tom  was  too  faint  and  weak  to  argue,  and  a  min- 
ute later  he  dropped  off  to  sleep,  from  which  he  did 
not  wake  until  it  was  dusk.  Sitting  up,  he  saw  that 
he  had  been  aroused  by  the  approach  of  an  officer, 
whom  he  recognized  as  one  of  General  Beresford's 
staff. 

"How  are  you,  Scudamore?"  he  asked.  "The 
general  has  just  sent  me  to  inquire." 

"  He  is  very  kind,"  Tom  said.  "  I  think  that  I 
am  all  right,  only  I  am  horribly  thirsty." 

The  officer  unslung  a  flask  from  his  shoulder. 
"  This  is  weak  brandy-and- water.  I  have  brought 
it  over  for  you.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  your 
brother  is  so  bad,  but  the  doctor  gives  strong  hopes 
of  him  in  his  report." 

Tom  bent  down  over  Peter.  "  He  is  breathing 
quietly,"  he  said.  "  I  hope  it  is  a  sort  of  sleep  he 
has  fallen  into.  "What  are  we  doing  ?" 

"  Nothing,"  the  officer  answered ;  "  there  is  noth- 
ing to  do ;  every  un wounded  man  is  under  arms  in 
case  the  French  attack  us  in  the  night.  I  expect, 
however,  they  will  wait  till  morning,  and  if  they 
come  on  then  I  fear  our  chance  is  a  slight  one  in- 
deed. We  have  only  eighteen  hundred  of  our 
infantry ;  the  German  regiments  and  the  Portuguese 


274  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

will  do  their  best ;  but  the  Spanish  are  utterly  use- 
less. Soult  has  lost  more  men  than  we  have,  but 
we  are  like  a  body  which  has  lost  its  backbone ;  and 
if  the  French,  who  are  all  good  soldiers,  renew  the 
battle,  I  fear  it  is  all  up  with  us." 

"  Have  you  got  all  our  wounded  in  ?"  Tom  asked. 

"  No,"  the  officer  said  bitterly.  "  Our  unbounded 
men  must  stand  to  arms,  and  Lord  Beresford  sent 
over  to  Blake  just  now  to  ask  for  the  assistance  of 
a  battalion  of  Spaniards  to  collect  our  wounded,  and 
the  brute  sent  back  to  say  that  it  was  the  custom  in 
allied  armies  for  each  army  to  attend  to  its  own 
wounded." 

"  The  brute !"  Tom  repeated  with  disgust.  "  How 
the  poor  fellows  must  be  suffering !" 

"  The  men  who  are  but  slightly  wounded  have 
been  taking  water  to  all  they  can  find,  and  the  doc- 
tors are  at  work  now,  and  will  be  all  night  going 
about  dressing  wounds.  The  worst  of  it  is,  if  the 
fight  begins  again  to-morrow  all  the  wounded  who 
cannot  crawl  away  must  remain  under  fire.  How- 
ever, the  French  wounded  are  all  over  the  hill  too, 
and  perhaps  the  French  will  avoid  a  cannonade  as 
much  as  possible,  for  their  sake.  It  is  a  bad  lookout 
altogether;  and  between  ourselves,  Beresford  has 
written  to  Lord  Wellington  to  say  that  he  antici- 
pates a  crushing  defeat." 

"  Is  there  any  chance  of  reinforcements  ?"  Tom 
asked. 

"  We  hope  that  the  third  brigade  of  the  fourth 
division  will  be  up  to-morrow  by  midday  ;  they  are 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  275 

ordered  to  come  on  by  forced  marches.  If  Soult 
does  not  attack  till  they  arrive  it  will  make  all  the 
difference,  for  fifteen  hundred  fresh  men  will  nearly 
double  our  strength.  But  I  must  be  going  how. 
Good-by." 

The  surgeon  presently  came  round  again  to  see 
how  the  wounded  officers  were  getting  on.  Tom 
asked  him  whether  there  was  any  thing  he  could  do  for 
Peter ;  but  the  surgeon,  after  feeling  his  pulse,  said : 
"  No,  not  as  long  as  he  breathes  quietly  like  this  ; 
but  if  he  moves  pour  a  little  brandy-and-water 
down  his  throat.  Now,  gentlemen,  all  who  can  must 
look  after  the  others,  for  there  is  not  an  available 
man,  and  I  must  be  at  work  all  night  on  the  field." 

There  were  many  of  the  officers  who  were  not  hit 
too  severely  to  move  about,  and  these  collected 
some  wood  and  made  a  fire,  so  as  to  enable  them  to 
see  and  attend  to  their  more  severely  wounded 
comrades.  Tom  took  his  place  close  to  Peter, 
where  he  could  watch  his  least  movement,  and  once 
or  twice  during  the  night  poured  a  little  brandy- 
and-water  between  his  lips.  The  other  officers  took 
it  by  turns  to  attend  to  their  comrades,  to  keep  up 
the  fire,  and  to  sleep.  Those  whose  turn  it  was  to 
be  awake  sat  round  the  fire  smoking,  and  talking  as 
to  the  chances  of  the  morrow,  getting  up  occasion- 
ally to  give  drink  to  such  of  the  badly  wounded  as 
were  awake. 

Tom,  faint  with  his  wound,  found  it,  toward 
morning,  impossible  to  keep  awake,  and  dozed  off, 
to  wake  with  a  start  and  find  that  it  was  broad  day- 


276  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

light.  Soon  afterward,  to  his  intense  satisfaction, 
Peter  opened  his  eyes.  Tom  bent  over  him. 
"  Don't  try  to  move,  Peter ;  lie  quiet,  old  boy." 

"  What's  the  matter  ?"  Peter  asked  with  a  puzzled 
look. 

"  You  have  been  hit  in  the  body,  Peter,  but  the 
doctor  means  to  get  you  round  in  no  time.  "  Yes," 
he  continued,  seeing  Peter's  eyes  fixed  on  his  band- 
aged shoulder,  "  I  have  had  a  tap  too,  but  there's  no 
great  harm  done.  There,  drink  some  brandy-and- 
water,  and  go  off  to  sleep  again,  if  you  can." 

The  morning  passed  very  slowly,  the  troops  being 
all  under  arms,  expecting  the  renewed  attack  of 
Soult,  but  it  came  not ;  and  when,  early  in  the 
afternoon,  the  third  brigade  of  the  fourth  division 
marched  into  camp,  they  were  received  with  gen- 
eral cheering.  A  heavy  load  seemed  taken  off 
every  one's  heart,  and  they  felt  now  that  they  could 
fight,  if  fight  they  must,  with  a  hope  of  success. 

The  newcomers,  wearied  as  they  were  with  their 
long  forced  marches,  at  once  took  the  outpost 
duties,  and  those  relieved  set  about  the  duty  of 
collecting  and  bringing  in  all  the  wounded. 

Next  morning  the  joyful  news  came  that  Soult 
was  retiring,  and  all  felt  with  a  thrill  of  triumph 
that  their  sacrifices  and  efforts  had  not  been  in  vain, 
and  that  the  hard-fought  battle  of  Albuera  was  for- 
ever to  take  its  place  among  the  great  victories  of 
the  British  army. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTEK  XIV. 

INVALIDED    HOME. 

Two  days  after  the  battle  of  Albuera  Lord  Well- 
ington himself  arrived,  and  from  the  officers  of  his 
staff  Tom  heard  the  details  of  the  battle  of  Fuentes 
d'Onoro,  which  had  been  fought  a  few  days  pre- 
viously, and  which  had  been  nearly  as  hardly  con- 
tested as  had  Albuera  itself,  both  sides  claiming  the 
victory. 

The  next  day,  the  bulk  of  Beresford's  army  re- 
turned to  the  neighborhood  of  Badajos,  which  they 
again  invested,  while  a  long  convoy  of  wounded 
started  for  Lisbon.  The  Scudamores  accompanied 
it  as  far  as  Campo  Maior,  where  a  large  hospital 
had  been  prepared  for  those  too  ill  to  bear  the 
journey.  Peter  was  still  unconscious.  Fever  had 
set  in  upon  the  day  after  the  battle,  and  for  three 
weeks  he  lay  between  life  and  death.  Tom's  arm 
was  mending  very  slowly,  and  he  would  have  had 
hard  work  indeed  in  nursing  Peter  had  it  not  been 
for  the  arrival  of  unexpected  assistance.  A  large 
villa  had  been  taken  close  to  the  main  hospital  for 
the  use  of  officers,  and  one  of  the  rooms  wag  allotted 
to  the  Scudamores. 


278  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Upon  the  evening  of  the  second  day  after  their 
arrival  Tom  was  sitting  by  Peter's  bedside,  when, 
after  a  preliminary  tap,  the  door  opened,  and  to 
Tom's  perfect  amazement  Sambo  entered.  The 
negro  hurried  forward,  threw  himself  on  his  knees, 
seized  Tom's  hand  and  kissed  it  passionately,  and 
then  looking  at  the  thin  and  fever-flushed  face  of 
Peter,  he  hid  his  face  in  his  hands  and  sobbed  unre- 
strainedly. 

"  Hush,  Sam,  hush,"  Tom  said  soothingly.  "  My 
poor  fellow,  why,  where  have  you  come  from?  I 
thought  you  were  a  prisoner  with  the  French." 

"  I  knew  how  it  would  be,  Massa  Tom,"  the  black 
said,  paying  no  attention  to  the  question.  "  First 
thing  Sam  said  to  himself  when  he  got  among 
French  fellows,  "  Dere,  dose  young  gentlemen  dey 
get  into  all  sorts  of  danger  widout  Sam,  sartin  sure 
dey  get  hurt  widout  Sam  to  look  after  dem.'  Dat 
idea  trouble  Sam  bery  much,  took  away  Sam's 
sleep  altogether." 

"  Well,  it  turned  out  so,  as  you  see,  Sam,"  Tom 
said  with  a  smile,  "  but  tell  me  how  did  you  get 
away?  But  first  give  me  some  lemonade  out  of 
that  jug,  then  you  can  tell  me  all  about  it." 

"  Why,  Massa  Tom,"  Sam  said,  when  he  had  com- 
plied with  the  request,  "  you  did'nt  think  dat  dis 
chile  was  going  to  stop  prisoner  with  dose  French 
chaps,  Sam  not  such  a  fool  as  dat,  nohow.  When 
dat  cussed  mule — I  tell  you  fair,  Massa  Tom,  dis 
chile  conclude  dat  riding  not  such  a  bery  easy  ting- 
after  all — when  dat  cussed  mule  ran  into  French 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  279 

camp,  de  soldiers  dey  catch  him,  and  dey  take  Sam 
off,  and  den  dey  jabber  and  laugh  for  all  de  world 
like  great  lots  of  monkeys.  Well,  for  some  time 
Sam  he  didn't  say  nothing,  all  de  wind  shook  out 
of  his  body.  Besides  which  he  couldn't  understand 
what  dey  say.  Den  all  of  a  sudden,  to  Sam's  sur- 
prise, up  came  a  colored  soldier,  and  he  speak  to 
Sam  in  de  English  tongue.  '  Holla,  broder,  how  you 
come  here  ?'  I  ask.  '  I  been  cook  on  board  English 
merchant  ship,'  he  say.  '  Ship  she  taken  by  French 
privateer.  When  dey  come  to  port  dey  say  to  me, 
"  You  not  Englishman,  you  hab  choice,  you  go  to 
prison,  or  you  be  French  soldier."  Natural,  I  not 
want  go  prison,  so  I  conclude  be  French  soldier. 
I  dare  say  dey  gib  you  choice  too.'  Well,  massa,  a 
wink  as  good  as  a  nod  to  blind  hoss.  So  dey  take 
me  to  tent,  put  me  under  guard,  and  next  day  a 
French  officer  come  dat  speak  English.  He  ask  me 
all  sorts  ob  questions,  and  at  last  he  ask  me  why  I 
list  English  soldier.  So  you  see  I  had  got  a  little 
lie  all  ready,  and  me  tell  him,  me  one  poor  Melican 
negro  man,  cook  on  board  Melican  ship.  Ship 
taken  by  English  man-ob-war.  Put  Sam  in  prison 
and  give  him  choice  to  go  as  soldier.  '  Den  you 
not  care  about  English,'  de  officer  say,  and  Sam 
draw  hisself  up  and  pat  his  chest  and  say,  'Me 
Melican  citizen,  me  no  Britisher's  slave,  some  day 
me  go  back  States,  go  on  board  Melican  man-ob- 
war,  me  pay  out  dese  Britishers  for  make  Sam 
slave.'  Den  de  officer  laugh,  and  say  dat  if  I  like  I 
could  fight  dem  now ;  and  if  I  prefer  French  uni- 


280  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

form  to  French  prison,  me  could  have  him.  Of 
course  I  accep  offer,  and  harp  an  hour  after  me  in 
French  uniform.  French  officer  try  to  make  joke 
ob  Sam,  and  ask  whether  I  like  cavalry  or  foot 
soldier.  Sam  say  he  had  enuff  of  quaduples  at 
present.  Me  remain  French  soldier  three  weeks ; 
den  cum  great  battle,  dey  call  him  Fuentes  donory. 
Sam's  regiment  fight.  Sam  not  like  fire  at  redcoats, 
so  break  bullet  off  cartridge,  neber  put  him  in  gun. 
We  charge  right  into  middle  of  village  full  of  Eng- 
lish soldier,  de  bullets  fly  al  1  about.  Sam  not  see 
de  point  ob  getting  kill  by  mistake,  so  he  tumble 
down,  pretend  to  be  dead.  Presently  French 
beaten  back  ;  when  English  soldier  wid  doctor  cum 
look  at  wounded,  dey  turn  Sam  ober,  and  dey  say, 
'Hullo,  here  dead  nigger.'  'Kigger  yourself,  John 
Atkins,'  I  say — for  sure  enuff  it's  de  ole  regiment— 
*  you  say  dat  once  again  me  knock  your  head  off ;' 
me  jump  up,  and  all  de  world  call  out,  '  Hullo,  why 
it's  Sam.'  Den  me  splain  matter,  and  all  bery 
glad,  'cept  John  Atkins,  and  next  morning  me  gib 
him  licking  he  'member  all  his  life,  me  pound  him 
most  to  a  squash.  Four  days  ago  colonel  send  for 
Sam,  say,  '  Sam,  bery  bad  job,  bofe  massas  wounded, 
bad,  send  you  to  nurse  dem ;?  so  dis  chile  come. 
Dat  all,  Massa  Tom.  Here  letter  for  you  from 
colonel,  now  you  read  dis  letter,  den  you  get  in  bed, 
you  sleep  all  night.  Sam  watch  Massa  Peter." 

Greatly  relieved  to  have  his  faithful  servant 
again,  and  to  know  that  Peter  would  be  well  cared 
for,  instead  of  being  left  in  charge  of  the  Spanish 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  281 

hospital  orderly  whenever  weakness  and  pain 
obliged  him  to  lie  down,  Tom  abandoned  his  place 
by  the  bedside,  and  prepared  for  a  tranquil  night's 
rest,  first  reading  the  colonel's  letter. 

"  We  are  all  grieved,  my  dear  Scudamore,  at 
hearing  that  you  are  both  wounded,  and  that  your 
brother  is  at  present  in  a  serious  state.  We  trust, 
however,  that  he  will  pull  through.  I  hear  that 
Beresford  has  praised  you  both  most  highly  in  dis- 
patches, and  that  your  names  -are  sent  home  for 
companies.  I  heartily  congratulate  you.  We  have 
had  some  tough  work  at  Fuentes  d'Onoro,  although 
nothing  to  what  yours  must  have  been  at  Albuera, 
still  it  was  hot  enough  in  all  conscience,  and  we 
had  over  a  hundred  casualties  in  the  regiment. 
Carruthers  and  Manley  were  both  slightly  wounded. 
Jones,  Anstruther,  Palmer,  and  Chambers  were 
killed,  and  several  of  the  others  hit  more  or  less 
hard.  Sam  has  leave  to  remain  with  you  until  you 
rejoin,  which  will  not,  I  fear,  be  for  some  little 
time.  Every  one  sends  kind  messages. 

"  Yours  truly, 

«  J.  TRITTON." 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  care  and  devotion  with 
which  Sam  nursed  his  two  masters,  and  Tom  had 
the  greatest  difficulty  in  persuading  him  to  lie  down 
and  get  a  short  sleep  each  day  while  he  sat  by 
Peter'c  bed.  At  the  end  of  three  weeks  Peter  took 
a  favorable  turn.  His  fever  abated,  and  he  awoke 
to  consciousness.  Another  fortnight  and  he  was 
sufficiently  convalescent  to  be  moved,  and  accord- 
ingly they  started  to  travel  by  very  easy  stages  to 


282  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Lisbon,  there  to  take  ship  for  England,  as  the  doctor 
ordered  Tom  as  well  as  his  brother  to  go  home  for 
awhile  to  recruit.  Tom  was  the  less  reluctant  to  do 
so,  as  it  was  evident  that  with  the  force  at  his 
command  Wellington  would  not  be  able  to  under- 
take any  great  operation,  and  that  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Badajos  was  the  utmost  likely  to  be  ac- 
complished in  that  season's  campaign.  The  mails 
in  due  course  had  brought  out  the  Gazette,  and  in 
it  Tom  and  Peter  Scudamore  were  promoted  to  be 
captains,  unattached. 

Colonel  Tritton,  upon  being  applied  to,  readily 
gave  leave  for  Sam  to  accompany  his  masters.  It 
was  a  long  journey  to  Lisbon,  but  the  jolting  of  the 
country  cart  was  made  bearable  by  a  layer  of  hay 
two  feet  deep,  upon  which  the  mattresses  were  laid, 
Sam  seeing  that  at  each  night's  halt  the  hay  was 
taken  out,  well  shaken,  and  then  returned  to  the 
cart,  so  as  to  preserve  it  light  and  elastic.  A  thick 
canopy  of  boughs  kept  off  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and 
under  it,  within  reach  of  the  invalids,  hung  a  gourd 
of  fresh  water,  and  a  basket  of  fruit.  Several  other 
cartloads  of  wounded  officers  accompanied  them, 
and  at  night  they  would  draw  up  by  a  grove  of 
trees  where  water  was  handy,  those  who  could 
walk  would  get  out,  the  others  would  be  lifted  out 
on  their  mattresses,  a  great  fire  made,  and  round  it 
the  beds  laid  in  a  circle,  and  then  the  evening 
would  be  spent  in  pleasant  chat,  with  many  an 
anecdote  and  an  occasional  song,  until  the  fire 
burned  low,  the  talk  died  away,  and  each,  covered 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  283 

in  his  blankets  to  keep  off  the  night  dew,  fell  asleep. 
Pleasant  as  was  the  journey,  however,  it  was  with 
a  thrill  of  delight  that  they  caught  their  first  sight 
of  Lisbon,  with  its  broad  river,  and  the  blue  line  of 
the  sea  beyond.  A  few  days  later,  and  they  em- 
barked on  board  a  transport,  which  seven  days 
afterward,  after  a  calm  passage,  arrived  at  Spithead. 

Peter  was  by  this  time  gaining  strength  fast,  but 
his  back  was  so  stiff  and  sore  that  he  was  unable  to 
move  it,  and  was  obliged  to  swing  himself  along  on 
crutches.  The  next  day  the  cOach  took  them  to 
London,  and  they  started  the  morning  after  for 
Marlborough.  This  time  they  had  to  go  inside  the 
coach,  two  gentlemen,  who  had  previously  secured 
the  seats,  kindly  giving  them  up  in  favor  of  the 
wounded  young  officers,  while  Sam  took  his  place 
on  the  roof,  and  amused  his  fellow-passengers  with 
wonderful  accounts  of  his  adventures  at  the  war. 
At  the  inn  at  which  they  took  dinner,  they  alighted, 
and  Tom  recognized  in  the  driver  the  same  coach- 
man who  had  driven  them  upon  the  memorable 
occasion  of  their  being  stopped  by  highwaymen 
three  years  before.  "  You  don't  remember  us, 
coachman,  do  you?" 

"  No,  gentlemen,  I  can't  say  as  how — but  eh ! 
no,  why  you're  the  werry  boys  as  shot  the  high- 
waymen. "Well,  I  am  glad  to  see  you  again,  though 
you  do  look  white  and  bad,  both  of  you.  I  heard 
as  how  there  were  two  wounded  officers  inside,  and 
that  black  soldier  has  been  telling  all  sorts  of  tales 
of  the  wonderful  things  as  his  masters  had  done, 


284  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

but  not  knowing  as  how  it  was  you,  I  didn't  much 
believe  all  he  was  telling.  Now  I  quite  see  as  how 
it  was  true  ;  and  how  are  you  both  ?" 

"  Getting  on  all  right,"  Tom  said,  returning  the 
warm  shake  of  the  coachman's  hand,  "  and  do  you 
know,  those  pistols  have  saved  our  lives  more  than 
once." 

"Have  they  now,"  the  coachman  said  in  high 
admiration,  "  but  there,  we  must  be  moving,  we  are 
three  minutes  after  time  as  it  is ;  I  shall  see  you 
again  next  time  we  stop,  gentlemen." 

During  the  next  stage  the  coachman  and  guard 
recounted  to  the  outside  passengers  the  affair  of  the 
stopping  the  coach,  and  Sam's  black  face  shone 
with  delight  at  the  tale.  Then  he  had  his  say,  and 
related  the  story  of  his  falling  overboard  and  be- 
ing rescued,  and  in  consequence  the  lads  were  quite 
embarrassed  when  they  next  halted,  by  the  atten- 
tion of  their  fellow-travelers,  who  could  scarcely 
understand  how  it  was  possible  that  two  mere  boys 
should  have  performed  such  feats  of  bravery. 

Arrived  at  Marlborough  they  looked  round  in 
vain  for  the  one-horsed  vehicle  which  had  before 
met  them.  "  I  expect  that  aunt  has  not  got  our 
letter,  Peter,"  Tom  said.  "  It  would  probably  go 
up  to  town  in  the  coach  with  us,  and  is  likely 
enough  in  the  letter-bag  in  the  boot.  "Well,  we 
must  have  a  post-chaise.  Won't  aunt  and  Ehoda 
be  surprised ;  but  they  must  be  expecting  us,  be- 
cause they  will  have  had  our  letter  from  Lisbon." 

The  horses  were  soon  in,  Sam  took  his  seat  in  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  285 

rumble,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  were  bounding 
over  the  road  at  a  very  different  pace  to  that  at 
which  they  had  before  traversed  it.  "  There's  the 
house  among  the  trees,"  Peter  said  at  last,  "  with 
aunt's  pigeons  on  the  roof  as  usual,  and  there's 
Minnie  asleep  on  the  window-sill,  and  there !  yes, 
there's  Rhoda." 

As  he  spoke  a  girl,  who  was  sitting  reading  under 
a  tree,  leaped  to  her  feet,  on  hearing  a  carriage 
stop,  and  then,  catching  sight  of  Peter  waving  his 
hat,  while  Tom  made  frantic  efforts  to  open  the 
door,  gave  a  scream  of  delight,  and  rushed  toward 
them,  threw  her  arm  round  Tom's  neck  as  he 
jumped  out,  and  then  leaped  into  the  chaise  and 
hugged  and  cried  over  Peter.  He  was  soon  helped 
out,  and  as  they  turned  to  go  toward  the  house  they 
saw  their  aunt  coming  out  to  meet  them. 

Tom  ran  forward  and  throwing  his  arms  round 
her  neck  kissed  her  heartily,  and  before  she  could 
recover  from  her  surprise  Peter  was  alongside. 

"  Please,  aunt,  you  must  kiss  me,"  he  said,  "  for  I 
want  my  arms  for  my  crutches."  His  aunt  leaned 
forward  and  kissed  him,  and  then  wiped  the  tears 
from  her  eyes. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  back,  my  dear  nephews," 
she  said.  "  We  did  not  understand  each  other  very 
well  before,  but  we  shan't  make  any  more  mistakes. 
That  is  your  black  servant,  I  suppose,"  she  said,  as 
Sam  came  along,  with  a  trunk  in  each  hand.  "Dear! 
dear !  what  a  dreadfully  ugly  man." 

"  How  do  you  do,  Sam  ?"  Rhoda  said,  when  he 


286  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

came  up.  "  "We  have  heard  so  much  of  you,  and 
how  kindly  you  nursed  my  brothers." 

"  Sam  quite  well,  tank  you,  little  missy,"  Sam 
said,  grinning  all  over  his  face  and  showing  his 
'  white  teeth. 

Miss  Scudamore  shrank  toward  Tom  as  Sam 
passed  on.  "  Dear  me,  what  sharp-looking  teeth 
he  has,  Tom.  They  don't  eat  curious  things,  these 
black  men,  do  they  ?" 

"  What  sort  of  curious  things,  aunt?" 

"  Well,  my  dear,  I  know  that  these  outlandish 
people  do  eat  strange  things,  and  I  have  heard  the 
Chinese  eat  dogs  and  cats.  Now,  if  he  has  a  fancy 
for  cats,  I  dare  say  I  could  buy  him  some  in  the 
village,  only  he  will  have  to  cook  them  himself,  I 
could  never  ask  Hannah  to  cook  cats ;  but  please 
ask  him  not  to  touch  Minnie." 

Peter  had  to  stop  in  his  walk  and  grasp  his 
crutches  tightly,  not  to  burst  into  a  scream  of 
laughter,  while  Tom  answered  with  great  gravity, 
"  My  dear  aunt,  do  not  alarm  yourself.  I  will 
answer  for  the  safety  of  Minnie  as  far  as  Sam  is 
concerned." 

When  they  reached  the  house  Miss  Scudamore 
said : 

"  I  think  you  young  people  will  enjoy  yourselves 
more  if  you  go  and  sit  under  the  shade  of  the  elm 
there ;  you  will  have  a  deal  to  say  to  each  other,  and 
had  better  be  alone."  They  were  all  glad  at  the 
suggestion,  as  they  were  longing  to  be  alone  to- 
gether. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  287 

Sam,  by  Miss  Scudamore's  directions,  carried  out 
a  great  easy -chair,  of  which  Peter  took  possession. 
Rhoda  sat  on  the  grass  at  his  feet,  and  Tom  threw 
himself  down  at  full  length.  They  were  all  too 
happy  to  speak  much  for  a  time,  and  could  only  look 
fondly  at  each  other.  "  You  have  grown  a  great 
deal,  Rhoda,  but  I  do  not  think  that  you  are  altered 
a  bit  otherwise." 

"  You  are  neither  of  you  altered  so  much  as  I  ex- 
pected," Rhoda  said.  "  I  had  made  up  my  mind 
that  you  would  be  changed  a  great  deal.  It  sounds 
so  grand,  captains,  indeed  !  I  expected  to  have  to 
courtesy  to  you  and  treat  you  with  great  respect ;  in- 
stead of  that  you  look  regular  boys,  both  of  you.  Of 
course  you  are  big,  and  Peter  looks  very  tall ;  how 
tall  are  you,  Peter  ?" 

"  Just  over  six  feet,"  Peter  said. 

"  Yes,"  Rhoda  said,  "  you  are  tall  enough,  and 
Tom  is  broad  enough  for  men,  but  somehow  you 
look  regular  boys  still." 

"  This  is  very  disrespectful,  Rhoda,  to  two  cap- 
tains in  his  majesty's  service." 

"  It  seems  ridiculous,  doesn't  it,"  Rhoda  said. 

"  It  does,"  Tom  said  heartily,  and  the  three  went 
off  into  a  shout  of  laughter. 

"  It  isn't  really  ridiculous,  you  know,"  Rhoda 
said,  when  they  had  recovered  their  gravity. 
"  To  think  of  all  the  dangers  you  have  gone 
through.  Aunt  was  as  proud  as  could  be  when 
she  saw  your  names  over  and  over  again  in  dis- 
patches, and  I  have  been  like  a  little  peacock. 


288  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Your  doings  have  been  the  talk  of  every  one  round 
here,  and  I  am  sure  that  if  they  had  known  you 
had  been  coming,  the  village  would  have  put 
up  a  triumphal  arch,  and  presented  you  with  an 
address." 

"  Thank  goodness,  they  did  not  know  it  then," 
Tom  said,  "  for  it  would  have  been  a  deal  worse  to 
stand  than  the  fire  of  a  French  battery.  Well, 
Rhoda,  and  now  as  to  yourself  ;  so  you  have  really 
been  always  very  happy  with  aunt  ?" 

"  Very  happy,"  Khoda  said  ;  "•  she  is  most  kind 
and  indulgent,  and  so  that  I  attend  to  her  little 
fancies,  I  can  do  just  as  I  like.  I  have  had  lessons 
regularly  from  the  rector's  eldest  daughter,  who  has 
been  educated  for  a  governess ;  and  in  every  respect, 
aunt  is  all  that  is  kind.  Fancy  her  being  afraid  of 
Sam  eating  Minnie." 

After  chatting  for  upward  of  an  hour  they  went 
into  .the  house,  and  the  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in 
talking  over  all  that  had  happened  since  they  left. 
Sam  was  in  the  kitchen  where  he  made  himself  very 
much  at  home,  and  although  Hannah  and  the  cook 
were  at  first  rather  awed  by  his  size,  his  black  face 
and  rolling  eyes,  they  were  soon  pacified  by  his 
good  humor  and  readiness  to  make  himself  useful, 
and  were  wonderfully  interested  by  his  long  stories 
about  what  "Massas"  had  done  in  the  war. 

Miss  Scudamore,  who  was  a  little  uneasy  as  to 
how  things  would  go  on  in  the  kitchen,  made  some 
excuse  for  going  in  once  or  twice  in  the  course  of 
the  evening.  She  found  things  going  on  much  bet- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  289 

ter  than  she  had  expected,  indeed  so  much  better 
that  after  Khoda  had  gone  up  to  bed,  where  Peter 
had  two  hours  before  betaken  himself,  she  said  to 
Tom  as  he  was  lighting  his  candle,  "  One  minute, 
nephew,  I  could  not  speak  before  Khoda,  but  I 
wanted  to  say  something  to  you  about  your  negro. 
I  have  heard  that  all  soldiers  are  very  much  given 
to  make  love,  and  we  know  from  Shakespeare  that 
Othello,  who  was  black  too,  you  will  remember, 
nephew,  made  love  to  Desdemona,  which  shows  that 
color  does  not  make  so  much  difference  as  one 
would  think.  Now  I  do  hope  your  man  will  not 
make  love  to  Hannah  ;  I  don't  think  she  would  like 
it,  my  dear,  and  }^et  you  know  she  might ;  one 
never  knows  what  women  will  do;  they  are  always 
making  fools  of  themselves,"  she  added  angrily, 
thinking  at  the  moment  how  a  young  girl  she  had 
trained  up  as  a  cook  had,  after  being  with  her  three 
years,  left  a  few  weeks  before  to  marry  the  village 
blacksmith,  "  and  I  should  be  sorry  to  lose  Hannah. 
She  has  been  with  us  more  than  twenty  years.  If 
he  must  fall  in  love  with  one,  my  dear,  let  it  be  the 
cook." 

Tom  had  a  great  command  of  his  countenance, 
but  he  had  great  difficulty  in  steadying  his  muscles. 
After  a  moment  or  two  he  said,  "  I  will  give  Sam  a 
hint,  aunt,  if  it  becomes  necessary,  but  I  do  not  think 
you  need  fear.  I  do  not  fancy  Sam  is  matrimonially 
inclined  at  present,  and  he  wouldn't  leave  us 
even  to  marry  Desdemona  herself.  Good-night, 
aunt !" 


290  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

So  saying,  Tom  went  upstairs,  where  he  repeated 
to  Peter,  who  was  still  awake,  his  conversation 
with  his  aunt,  and  the  two  went  into  shouts  of 
laughter  over  the  idea  of  Sam  making  love  to  the 
prim  Hannah. 

The  next  six  months  passed  over  quietly  and  hap- 
pily. The  boys  were  made  a  great  deal  of  by  the 
whole  county,  and  Miss  Scudamore  was  greatly  grati- 
fied at  the  name  and  credit  they  had  gained  for  them- 
selves. She  no  longer  worried  about  them,  but  as 
Rhoda  declared,  quite  spoiled  them,  and  as  Sam 
made  no  attempt  to  win  the  love  of  the  faithful 
Hannah,  there  was  no  cloud  to  mar  the  pleasure  of 
the  holiday. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  291 


CHAPTER  XY. 

CTUDAD    KODRIGO   AND    BADAJOS. 

IT  was  in  the  beginning  of  December,  1811,  that 
the  Scudamores  again  sailed  up  -the  Tagus  to  Lis- 
bon, after  an  absence  of  just  six  months.  When 
they  had  passed  the  medical  board  they  were  trans- 
fered  from  the  unattached  list  to  the  Fifty-second 
Regiment,  which  was,  fortunately  for  them,  also  in 
Spain.  No  events  of  great  importance  had  taken 
place  during  their  absence.  Wellington,  after  the 
battles  of  Fuentas  d'Onoro  and  Albuera,  had  been 
compelled  to  fall  back  again  to  the  frontier  in  the 
face  of  greatly  superior  forces,  and  had  maintained 
his  old  position  on  the  Coa  till  the  approach  of 
winter  compelled  the  French  to  retire  into  the 
interior,  where  they  had  their  magazines  and 
depots. 

The  Scudamores  found  that  the  Fifty-second  were 
encamped  on  the  Agueda,  and  they  at  once  prepared 
to  go  up  country  to  join  them.  Their  chargers — 
presents  from  their  aunt  on  leaving — were  fresh  and 
vigorous,  and  they  purchased  a  strong  country  horse 
for  Sambo,  who,  thanks  to  some  practice  which  he 
had  had  in  England,  was  now  able  to  cut  a  respect- 


292  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

able  figure  on  horseback.  A  few  hours  were  suf- 
ficient to  make  their  preparations,  and  at  noon  on 
the  day  after  landing  they  mounted,  and  followed 
by  Sam,  accompanied  by  a  muleteer  and  two  mules 
carrying  their  baggage,  they  started  from  the  hotel 
at  which  they  had  put  up. 

As  they  rode  down  the  main  street  they  saw 
several  mounted  officers  approaching,  and  at  once 
recognized  in  the  leader  the  commander-in-chief, 
who  had  just  arrived  from  the  front  to  pay  one  of 
his  flying  visits,  to  endeavor  to  allay  the  jealousies 
in  the  Portuguese  Council,  and  to  insist  upon  the 
food | which  the  British  government  was  actually  pay- 
ing for  being  supplied  to  the  starving  Portuguese 
soldiers.  Drawing  their  horses  aside,  they  saluted 
Lord  Wellington  as  he  rode  past.  He  glanced  at 
them  keenly,  as  was  his  custom,  and  evidently 
recognized  them  as  he  returned  the  salute. 

When  he  had  passed  they  turned  their  horses  and 
continued  their  way.  They  had  not  gone  fifty 
yards,  however,  when  an  officer  came  up  at  a 
gallop.  Lord  Wellington  wished  them  to  call  at 
his  quarters  in  an  hour's  time. 

There  are  few  things  more  annoying  than,  after 
having  got  through  all  the  trouble  of  packing  and 
getting  fairly  on  the  road,  to  be  stopped  ;  but  there 
was  no  help  for  it,  and  the  boys  rode  back  to  their 
hotel  again,  where,  putting  up  their  horses,  they 
told  Sam  not  to  let  the  muleteer  leave,  for  they 
should  probably  be  on  the  road  again  in  an  hour. 

At  the  appointed  time  they  called  at  the  head- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  293 

quarters,  and  giving  their  cards  to  two  officers  on 
duty,  took  their  seats  in  the  anteroom.  It  now  be- 
came evident  to  them  that  their  chance  of  an  early 
interview  was  not  great,  and  that  they  would  in  all 
probability  be  obliged  to  pass  another  night  in 
Madrid.  Portuguese  grandees  passed  in  and  out, 
staff  officers  of  rank  entered  and  left,  important 
business  was  being  transacted,  and  the  chance  of 
two  line  captains  having  an  interview  with  the 
commander-in-chief  appeared  but  slight.  Two  hours 
passed  wearily,  and  then  an  orderly  sergeant  came 
into  the  room  and  read  out  from  a  slip  of  paper 
the  names  "  Captain  Thomas  Scudamore ;  Captain 
Peter  Scudamore.  This  way,  if  you  please,"  he 
added,  as  the  boys  rose  in  answer  to  their  names, 
and  he  led  the  way  into  a  room  where  a  colonel  on 
the  staff  was  seated  before  a  table  covered  with 
papers. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  I  have  news  which  I 
think  will  be  pleasant  to  you  both.  Lord  "Welling- 
ton has  not  forgotten  the  services  you  rendered  in 
carrying  his  communications  to  the  guerrilla  chiefs. 
Your  reports  were  clear  and  concise,  and  your 
knowledge  of  Spanish  especially  valuable.  Lord 
Beresford,  too,  has  reported  most  favorably  of  your 
conduct  while  with  him.  There  happen  to  be  two 
vacancies  on  his  staff,  and  he  has  desired  me  to  fill 
them  up  with  your  names." 

Although  the  Scudamores  would  in  some  respects 
rather  have  remained  with  their  regiment,  yet  they 
could  not  refuse  an  honor  which  was  generally 


294  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

coveted  as  being  a  post  in  which  an  active  officer 
had  plenty  of  opportunities  of  distinguishing  him- 
self, and  which  was  certain  to  lead  to  speedy  pro- 
motion. They  accordingly  expressed  their  warm 
thanks  for  the  honor  which  Lord  Wellington  had 
done  them. 

"  Are  you  well  mounted  ?"  Colonel  Somerset 
asked. 

"  We  have  one  capital  charger  each,"  Tom  said. 

"  You  will  want  another,"  Colonel  Somerset  re- 
marked. "  There  are  a  lot  of  remounts  landed  to- 
day. Here  is  an  order  to  Captain  Halket,  the 
officer  in  charge.  Choose  any  two  you  like.  The 
amount  can  be  stopped  from  your  pay.  How  about 
servants ;  you  are  entitled  to  two  each  ?" 

"  We  have  one  man  of  the  Norfolk  Rangers — a 
very  faithful  fellow,  who  has  returned  with  us  from 
leave  ;  if  he  could  be  transferred,  he  would  do  for  us 
both  if  we  had  a  cavalry  man  each  for  our  horses." 

The  colonel  at  once  wrote  an  order  for  Sam's 
transfer  from  his  regiment  on  detached  service,  and 
also  one  to  the  officer  commanding  a  cavalry  regi- 
ment stationed  in  Madrid,  to  supply  them  with  two 
troopers  as  orderlies. 

"  May  I  ask,  sir,  if  we  are  likely  to  stay  in 
Madrid  long — as,  if  so,  we  will  look  out  for  quar- 
ters ?"  Tom  asked. 

"  No ;  the  general  returns  to-morrow,  or  next  day 
at  latest,  to  Almeida,  and  of  course  you  will  accom- 
pany him.  Oh,  by  the  bye,  Lord  Wellington  will  be 
glad  if  you  will  dine  with  him  to-day — sharp  six. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  295 

By  the  way,  you  will  want  to  get  staff  uniforms. 
There  is  the  address  of  a  Spanish  tailor,  who  has 
fitted  out  most  of  the  men  who  have  been  appointed 
here.  He  works  fast,  and  will  get  most  of  the 
things  you  want  ready  by  to-morrow  night.  Don't 
get  more  things  than  are  absolutely  necessary — 
merely  undress  suits.  Excuse  my  asking,  how  are 
you  off  for  money  ?  I  will  give  you  an  order  on 
the  paymaster  if  you  like." 

Tom  replied  that  they  had  plenty  of  money, 
which  indeed  they  had,  for  their  aunt  had  given 
them  so  handsome  a  present  upon  starting  that 
they  had  tried  to  persuade  her  to  be  less  generous, 
urging  that  they  really  had  no  occasion  for  any 
money  beyond  their  pay.  She  had  insisted,  how- 
ever, upon  their  accepting  two  checks,  saying  that 
one  never  knew  what  was  wanted,  and  it  was 
always  useful  to  have  a  sum  to  fall  back  on  in  case 
of  need. 

Two  days  later  the  Scudamores,  in  their  new 
staff  uniforms,  were,  with  some  six  or  eight  other 
officers,  riding  in  the  suit  of  Lord  Wellington  on  the 
road  to  the  Coa.  The  lads  thought  they  had  never  had 
a  more  pleasant  time  ;  the  weather  was  fine  and  the 
temperature  delightful,  their  companions,  all  older 
somewhat  than  themselves,  were  yet  all  young  men 
in  high  health  and  spirits.  The  pace  was  good,  for 
Lord  Wellington  was  a  hard  rider,  and  time  was 
always  precious  with  him.  At  the  halting-places 
the  senior  officers  of  the  staff  kept  together,  while 
the  aids-de-camp  made  up  a  mess  of  their  own, 


296  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

always  choosing  a  place  as  far  away  as  possible 
from  that  of  the  chief,  so  that  they  could  laugh, 
joke,  and  even  sing,  without  fear  of  disturbing  his 
lordship. 

Sam  soon  became  a  high  favorite  with  the  light- 
hearted  young  fellows,  and  his  services  as  forager 
for  the  mess  were  in  high  esteem. 

Three  days  of  hard  riding  took  them  to  Almeida, 
where  the  breaches  caused  by  the  great  explosion 
had  been  repaired,  and  the  place  put  into  a  de- 
fensible position.  Tom  and  Peter  had  been  afraid 
that  there  would  be  at  least  four  months  of  enforced 
inactivity  before  the  spring ;  but  they  soon  found 
that  the  post  of  aid-de-camp  to  Wellington  was  no 
sinecure.  For  the  next  month  they  almost  lived  in 
the  saddle.  The  greater  portion  of  the  English 
army  was  indeed  lying  on  the  Agueda,  but  there 
were  detached  bodies  of  British  and  large  numbers 
of  Portuguese  troops  at  various  points  along  the 
whole  line  of  the  Portuguese  frontier,  and  with  the 
commanders  of  these  Lord  Wellington  was  in  con- 
stant communication. 

Toward  the  end  of  December  some  large  convoys 
of  heavy  artillery  arrived  at  Almeida,  but  every 
one  supposed  that  they  were  intended  to  fortify  this 
place,  and  none,  even  of  those  most  in  the  confi- 
dence of  the  commander-in-chief,  had  any  idea  that 
a  winter  campaign  was  about  to  commence.  The 
French  were  equally  unsuspicious  of  the  truth. 
Twice  as  strong  as  the  British,  they  dreamed  not 
that  the  latter  would  take  the  offensive,  and  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  297 

French  marshals  had  scattered  their  troops  at  con- 
siderable distances  from  the  frontier  in  winter 
quarters. 

Upon  the  last  day  of  the  year  the  Scudamores 
both  happened  to  have  returned  to  the  front — Tom 
from  Lisbon,  and  Peter  from  a  long  ride  to  a  dis- 
tant Portuguese  division.  There  was  a  merry  party 
gathered  round  a  blazing  fire  in  the  yard  of  the 
house  where  they,  with  several  other  aids-de-camp, 
were  quartered.  Some  fifty  officers  of  all  ranks  were 
present,  for  a  general  invitation  had  been  issued  to 
all  unattached  officers  in  honor  of  the  occasion. 
Each  brought  in  what  liquor  he  could  get  hold  of, 
and  any  provisions  which  he  had  been  able  to  pro- 
cure, and  the  evening  was  one  of  boisterous  fun  and 
jollity.  In  the  great  kitchen  blazed  a  fire,  before 
which  chickens  and  ducks  were  roasting,  turkeys 
and  geese  cut  up  in  pieces  for  greater  rapidity  of 
cooking,  were  grilling  over  the  fire,  and  as  they 
came  off  the  gridiron  they  were  taken  round  by  the 
soldier-servants  to  their  masters  as  they  sat  about 
on  logs  of  wood,  boxes,  and  other  substitutes  for 
chairs.  Most  of  the  officers  present  had  already 
supped,  and  the  late-comers  were  finishing  their 
frugal  meal,  after  which  the  soldiers  would  take 
their  turn.  There  was  a  brewing  of  punch  and 
an  uncorking  of  many  a  bottle  of  generous  wine ; 
then  the  song  and  laugh  went  round,  and  all  pre- 
pared to  usher  in  the  new  year  joyously,  when  a 
colonel  of  the  staff,  who  had  been  dining  with  Lord 
Wellington,  entered,  "  Here's  a  seat,  colonel,"  was 


298  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS- 

shouted  in  a  dozen  places,  but  he  shook  his  head 
and  held  up  his  hand. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  am  sorry  to  disturb  you,  but  or- 
ders must  be  obeyed.  Yilliers,  Hogan,  Scudamore? 
both,  Esdaile,  Cooper,  and  Johnson,  here  are  dis 
patches  which  have  to  be  taken  off  at  once.  Gen- 
tlemen, I  should  recommend  you  all  to  look  to  your 
horses.  All  attached  to  the  transport  had  better  go 
to  their  headquarters  for  orders." 

"  What  is  up,  colonel  ?"  was  the  general  question. 

"  The  army  moves  forward  at  daybreak.  We  are 
going  to  take  Ciudad." 

A  cheer  of  surprise  and  delight  burst  from  all. 
There  was  an  emptying  of  glasses,  a  pouring  out  of 
one  more  bumper  to  success,  and  in  five  minutes 
the  court  was  deserted,  save  by  some  orderlies  has- 
tily devouring  the  interrupted  supper,  and  ere  long 
the  tramp  of  horses  could  be  heard,  as  the  Scuda- 
mores  and  their  comrades  dashed  off  in  different 
directions  with  their  dispatches. 

The  next  morning  a  bridge  was  thrown  over  the 
Agueda  at  Marialva,  six  miles  below  Ciudad,  but 
the  investment  was  delayed,  owing  to  the  slowness 
and  insufficiency  of  the  transport.  Ciudad  Rodrigo 
was  but  a  third-class  fortress,  and  could  have  been 
captured  by  the  process  of  a  regular  siege  with 
comparatively  slight  loss  to  the  besiegers.  Wel- 
lington knew,  however,  that  he  could  not  afford  the 
time  for  a  regular  siege.  Long  before  the  ap- 
proaches could  have  been  made,  and  the  breaches 
effected  according  to  rule,  the  French  marshals 
would  have  been  up  with  overwhelming  forces. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  299 

Beginning  the  investment  on  the  7th,  Wellington 
determined  that  it  must  be  taken  at  all  costs  in 
twenty-four  days,  the  last  day  of  the  month  being 
the  very  earliest  date  at  which,  according  to  his 
calculations,  any  considerable  body  of  French  could 
come  up  to  its  relief. 

Ciudad  lies  on  rising  ground  on  the  bank  of  the 
Agueda.  The  fortifications  were  fairly  strong,  and 
being  protected  by  a  very  high  glacis,  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  effect  a  breach  in  them.  The  glacis  is  the 
smooth  ground  outside  the  ditch.  In  well-con- 
structed works  the  walls  of  the  fortification  rise  but 
very  little  above  the  ground  beyond,  from  which 
they  are  separated  by  a  broad  and  deep  ditch.  Thus 
the  ground  beyond  the  ditch,  that  is,  the  glacis, 
covers  the  walls  from  the  shot  of  a  besieger,  and 
renders  it  extremely  difficult  to  reach  them.  In  the 
case  of  Ciudad,  however,  there  were  outside  the 
place  two  elevated  plateaus,  called  the  great  and 
small  Teson.  Guns  placed  on  these  could  look  down 
upon  Ciudad,  and  could  therefore  easily  breach  the 
walls.  These,  then,  were  the  spots  from  which 
Wellington  determined  to  make  the  attack.  The 
French,  however,  were  aware  of  the  importance  of 
the  position,  and  had  erected  on  the  higher  Teson 
an  inclosed  and  palisadoed  redoubt,  mounting  two 
guns  and  a  howitzer.  A  great  difficulty  attending 
the  operation  was  that  there  were  neither  fuel  nor 
shelter  to  be  obtained  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
river,  and  the  weather  set  in  very  cold,  with  frost 
and  snow,  at  the  beginning  of  the  siege.  Hence  the 


300  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

troops  had  to  be  encamped  on  the  left  bank,  and 
each  division,  as  its  turn  came  to  occupy  the  trenches 
for  twenty-four  hours,  took  cooked  provisions  with 
it,  and  waded  across  the  Agueda. 

On  the  8th  Pack's  division  of  Portuguese  and  the 
light  division  waded  the  river  three  miles  above 
the  fortress,  and,  making  a  circuit,  took  up  a  place 
near  the  great  Teson.  There  they  remained  quiet 
all  day.  The  French,  seeing  that  the  place  was  not 
yet  entirely  invested,  paid  but  little  heed  to  them. 
At  nightfall,  however,  Colonel  Colborne,  with  two 
companies  from  each  of  the  regiments  of  the  light 
division,  attacked  the  redoubt  of  San  Francisco 
with  such  a  sudden  rush  that  it  was  carried  with 
the  loss  of  only  twenty-four  men,  the  defenders, 
few  and  unprepared,  being  all  taken  prisoners. 
Scarcely,  however,  was  the  place  captured  than 
every  gun  of  Ciudad  which  could  be  brought  to 
bear  upon  it  opened  with  fury.  All  night,  under  a 
hail  of  shot  and  shell,  the  troops  labored  steadily, 
and  by  daybreak  the  first  parallel,  that  is  to  say,  a 
trench  protected  by  a  bank  of  earth  six  hundred 
yards  in  length,  was  sunk  three  feet  deep.  The 
next  day  the  first  division  relieved  the  light  divi- 
sion. 

Tom  and  Peter,  now  that  the  army  was  station- 
ary, had  an  easier  time  of  it,  and  obtained  leave  to 
cross  the  river  to  see  the  operations.  The  troops 
had  again  to  wade  through  the  bitter  cold  water, 
and  at  any  other  time  would  have  grumbled  rarely 
at  the  discomfort.  When  really  engaged  in  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  301 

work  of  war,  however,  the  British  soldier  cares  for 
nothing,  and  holding  up  their  rifles,  pouches  and 
haversacks  to  keep  dry,  the  men  crossed  the  river 
laughing  and  joking.  There  was  but  little  done  all 
day,  for  the  tire  of  the  enemy  was  too  fast  and 
deadly  for  men  to  work  under  it  in  daylight.  At 
night  the  Scudamores  left  their  horses  with  those 
of  the  divisional  officers  and  accompanied  the 
troops  into  the  trenches,  to  learn  the  work  which 
had  there  to  be  done.  Directly  it  was  dusk  twelve 
hundred  men  fell  to  work  to  construct  their  bat- 
teries. The  night  was  dark,  and  it  was  strange  to 
the  Scudainores  to  hear  the  thud  of  so  many  picks 
and  shovels  going,  to  hear  now  and  then  a  low 
spoken  order,  but  to  see  nothing  save  when  the 
flash  of  the  enemy's  guns  momentarily  lit  up  the 
scene.  Every  half  minute  or  so  the  shot,  shell,  and 
grape  came  tearing  through  the  air,  followed  occa- 
sionally by  a  low  cry  or  a  deep  moan.  Exciting  as 
it  was  for  a  time,  the  boys,  having  no  duty,  found 
it  difficult  long  to  keep  awake,  and  presently  dozed 
off — at  first  to  wake  with  a  start  whenever  a  shell 
fell  close,  but  presently  to  sleep  soundly  until  dawn. 
By  that  time  the  batteries,  eighteen  feet  thick, 
were  completed. 

On  the  10th  the  fourth  division,  and  on  the  llth 
the  third,  carried  on  the  works,  but  were  nightly 
disturbed,  not  only  by  the  heavy  fire  from  the 
bastions,  but  from  some  guns  which  the  French 
had  mounted  on  the  convent  of  San  Francisco  in 
the  suburb  on  the  left.  Little  was  effected  in  the 


302  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

next  two  days,  for  the  frost  hardened  the  ground 
and  impeded  the  work.  On  the  night  of  the  13th 
the  Santa  Cruz  convent  was  carried  and  the  trenches 
pushed  forward,  and  on  the  next  afternoon  the 
breaching  batteries  opened  fire  with  twenty-five 
guns  upon  the  points  of  the  wall  at  which  it  had 
been  determined  to  make  the  breaches,  while  two 
cannons  kept  down  the  fire  of  the  French  guns  at 
the  convent  of  San  Francisco.  The  French  replied 
with  more  than  fifty  pieces,  and  all  night  the  tre- 
mendous fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  without 
intermission.  Just  at  daybreak  the  sound  of 
musketry  mingled  with  the  roar  of  cannon,  as  the 
Fortieth  Kegiment  attacked  and  carried  the  con- 
vent of  San  Francisco.  Through  the  16th,  17th, 
and  18th  the  artillery  duel  continued,  sometimes 
one  side,  sometimes  the  other  obtaining  the  advan- 
tage ;  but  during  each  night  the  trenches  of  the 
besiegers  were  pushed  forward,  and  each  day  saw 
the  breaches  in  the  ramparts  grow  larger  and 
larger.  On  the  19th  the  breaches  wrere  reported 
as  practicable — that  is,  that  it  would  be  possible  for 
men  to  scramble  up  the  fallen  rubbish  to  the  top, 
and  orders  were  therefore  given  for  the  assault  for 
that  night. 

The  attack  was  to  be  made  at  four  points  simul- 
taneously ;  the  Fifth,  Ninety -fourth,  and  Seventy- 
seventh  were  to  attack  from  the  convent  of  Santa 
Cruz,  to  make  for  the  ditch,  enter  it,  and  work  their 
way  along  to  the  great  breach ;  Mackinnon's  brigade 
of  the  third  division  was  to  attack  the  great  breach 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  303 

from  the  front ;  the  light  division  posted  behind 
the  convent  of  San  Francisco  were  to  attack  from 
the  left  and  make  their  way  to  the  small  breach ; 
while  a  false  attack,  to  be  converted  into  a  real  one 
if  the  resistance  was  slight,  was  to  be  made  by 
Pack's  Portuguese  at  the  St.  Jago  gate  at  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  town.  As  night  fell  the  troops 
moved  into  their  position,  and  Lord  "Wellington 
went  to  the  convent  of  San  Francisco,  from  whose 
roof  he  could  survey  the  operations.  The  Scuda- 
mores,  with  the  rest  of  the  staff,  took  up  their 
places  behind  him.  Suddenly  there  was  a  shout  on 
the  far  right,  followed  by  a  sound  of  confused  cheer- 
ing and  firing,  while  flashes  of  flame  leaped  out 
along  the  walls,  and  the  guns  of  the  place  opened 
fire  with  a  crash.  Now  the  Fifth,  Ninety-fourth, 
and  Seventy-seventh  rushed  with  great  swiftness 
along  the  ditch,  when,  at  the  foot  of  the  great 
breach,  they  were  met  by  the  third  division.  To- 
gether they  poured  up  the  breach,  and  the  roar  of 
musketry  was  tremendous.  Once  at  the  top  of  the 
breach,  however,  they  made  no  progress.  From  a 
trench  which  had  been  cut  beyond  it,  a  ring  of  fire 
broke  out,  while  muskets  flashed  from  every  win- 
dow in  the  houses  near.  It  was  evident  that  some 
serious  obstacle  had  been  encountered,  and  that  the 
main  attack  was  arrested. 

"  This  is  terrible,"  Peter  said,  as  almost  breath- 
less they  watched  the  storm  of  fire  on  and  around 
the  breach.  "  This  is  a  thousand  times  worse  than 
a  battle.  It  is  awful  to  think  how  the  shot  must 


304  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

be  telling  on  that  dense  mass.  Can  nothing  be 
done?" 

"  Hurrah !  There  go  the  light  division  at  the 
small  breach,"  Tom  exclaimed,  as  the  French  fire 
broke  out  along  the  ramparts  in  that  quarter.  A 
violent  cheer  came  up  even  above  the  din  from  the 
great  breach,  but  no  answering  fire  lights  the  scene, 
for  Major  Napier,  who  commanded,  had  forbidden 
his  men  to  load,  telling  them  to  trust  entirely  to 
the  bayonet.  There  was  no  delay  here ;  the  firing 
of  the  French  ceased  almost  immediately,  as  with  a 
fierce  rush  the  men  of  the  light  division  bounded 
up  the  ruins  and  won  the  top  of  the  breach.  For  a 
moment  or  two  there  was  a  pause,  for  the  French 
opened  so  fierce  a  fire  from  either  side  that  the 
troops  wavered.  The  officers  sprang  to  the  front, 
the  soldiers  followed  with  the  bayonet,  and  the 
French,  unable  to  stand  the  fierce  onslaught,  broke 
and  fled  into  the  town.  Then  the  men  of  the  light 
division,  rushing -along  the  walls,  took  the  French 
who  were  defending  the  great  breach  in  rear,  and 
as  these  gave  way  the  attacking  party  swept  across 
the  obstacles  which  had  hitherto  kept  them,  and 
the  town  was  won.  Pack's  Portuguese  had  effected 
an  entrance  at  the  St.  Jago  gate,  which  they  found 
almost  deserted,  for  the  garrison  was  weak,  and 
every  available  man  had  been  taken  for  the  defense 
of  the  breaches. 

Thus  was  Ciudad  Rodrigo  taken  after  twelve  days* 
siege,  with  a  loss  of  twelve  hundred  men  and  ninety 
officers,  of  which  six  hundred  and  fifty  men  and 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  305 

sixty  officers  fell  in  that  short,  bloody  fight  at  the 
breaches.  Among  the  killed  was  General  Craufurd, 
who  had  commanded  at  the  fight  on  the  Coa. 

Upon  entering  the  town  three  days  afterward,  at 
the  termination  of  the  disgraceful  scene  of  riot  and 
pillage  with  which  the  British  soldier,  there  as  at 
other  places,  tarnished  the  laurels  won  by  his 
bravery  in  battle,  the  boys  went  to  the  scene  of  the 
struggle,  and  then  understood  the  cause  of  the 
delay  upon  the  part  of  the  stormers.  From  the  top 
of  the  breach  there  was  a  perpendicular  fall  of  six- 
teen feet,  and  the  bottom  of  this  was  planted  with 
sharp  spikes,  and  strewn  with  the  fragments  of 
shells  which  the  French  had  rolled  down  into  it. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  light  division  coming  up 
and  taking  the  defenders — who  occupied  the  loop- 
holed  and  fortified  houses  which  commanded  this 
breach — in  rear,  the  attack  here  could  never  have 
succeeded. 

The  next  few  days  were  employed  in  repairing 
the  breaches,  and  putting  the  place  again  in  a  state 
of  defense,  as  it  was  probable  that  Marmont  might 
come  up  and  besiege  it.  The  French  marshal, 
however,  when  hurrying  to  the  relief  of  the  town, 
heard  the  news  of  its  fall,  and  as  the  weather  was 
very  bad  for  campaigning,  and  provisions  short,  he 
fell  back  again  to  his  winter  quarters,  believing  that 
Wellington  would,  content  with  his  success,  make 
no  fresh  movement  until  the  spring.  The  English 
general,  however,  was  far  too  able  a  strategist  not 
to  profit  by  the  supineness  of  his  adversary,  and 


306  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

immediately  Ciudad  Eodrigo  was  taken,  he  began  to 
make  preparations  for  the  siege  of  Badajos,  a  far 
stronger  fortress  than  Ciudad,  and  defended  by 
strong  detached  forts.  Three  days  after  the  fall  of 
Rodrigo  General  Hill  came  up  with  his  division ;  to 
this  the  Norfolk  Rangers  now  belonged,  and  the 
Scudamores  had  therefore  the  delight  of  meeting 
all  their  old  friends  again.  They  saw  but  little  of 
them,  however,  for  they  were  constantly  on  the 
road  to  Lisbon  with  dispatches,  every  branch  of  the 
service  being  now  strained  to  get  the  battering- 
train  destined  for  the  attack  on  Badajos  to  the 
front,  while  orders  were  sent  to  Silviera,  Trant, 
Wilson,  Lecca,  and  the  other  partisan  leaders,  to 
hold  all  the  fords  and  defiles  along  the  frontier,  so 
as  to  prevent  the  French  from  making  a  counter- 
invasion  of  Portugal. 

On  the  llth  of  March  the  army  arrived  at  Elvas, 
and  on  the  15th  a  pontoon  bridge  was  thrown  across 
the  Guadiana.  The  following  day  the  British 
troops  crossed  the  river  and  invested  Badajos  with 
fifteen  thousand  men,  while  Hill  and  Graham,  with 
thirty  thousand  more,  moved  forward  so  as  to  act 
as  a  covering  army  in  case  the  French  should 
advance  to  raise  the  siege.  Badajos  was  defended 
by  five  thousand  men  under  General  Phillipson,  a 
most  able  and  energetic  commander,  who  had  in 
every  way  strengthened  the  defenses,  and  put  them 
in  a  position  to  offer  an  obstinate  resistance. 

Before  attacking  the  fortress  it  was  necessary  to 
capture  one  of  the  outlying  forts,  and  that  known 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  30? 

as  the  Picurina  was  selected,  because  the  bastion  of 
the  Trinidad,  which  lay  behind  it,  was  the  weakest 
portion  of  the  fortress.  The  trenches  were  com- 
menced against  this  on  the  night  of  the  17th,  and 
although  the  French  made  some  vigorous  sorties, 
the  works  progressed  so  rapidly  that  all  was  ready 
for  an  assault  on  the  forts  on  the  25th,  a  delay  of 
two  days  having  been  occasioned  by  the  French 
taking  guns  across  the  river,  which  swept  the 
trenches  and  rendered  work  impossible  until  a  divi- 
sion was  sent  round  to  drive  in  the  French  guns  and 
invest  the  fortress  on  that  side.  The  Picurina  was 
strong  and  desperately  defended,  but  it  was  cap- 
tured after  a  furious  assault  which  lasted  one  hour 
and  cost  nineteen  officers  and  three  hundred  men. 
It  was  not,  however,  until  next  evening  that  the 
fort  could  be  occupied,  for  the  guns  of  the  town 
poured  such  a  hail  of  shot  and  shell  into  it  that  a 
permanent  footing  could  not  be  obtained  in  it. 
Gradually,  day  by  day,  the  trenches  were  driven 
nearer  to  the  doomed  city,  and  the  cannon  of  the 
batteries  worked  day  and  night  to  establish  a 
breach.  Soult  was  known  to  be  approaching,  but 
he  wanted  to  gather  up  all  his  available  forces,  as 
he  believed  the  town  capable  of  holding  out  for 
another  month  at  least.  Still  he  was  approaching, 
and  although  the  three  breaches  were  scarcely  yet 
practicable  and  the  fire  of  the  town  by  no  means 
overpowered,  Wellington  determined  upon  an  in- 
stant assault,  and  on  the  night  of  the  6th  of  April 
the  troops  prepared  for  what  turned  out  to  be  the 


308  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

most  terrible  and  bloody  assault  in  the  annals  of  the 
British  army.  There  were  no  less  than  six  columns 
of  attack,  comprising  in  all  eighteen  thousand  men. 
Picton,  on  the  right,  with  the  third  division,  was  to 
cross  the  Rivillas  and  storm  the  castle.  Wilson, 
with  the  troops  in  the  trenches,  was  to  attack  San 
Roque.  In  the  center  the  fourth  and  light  division, 
under  Colville  and  Barnard,  were  to  assault  the 
breaches ;  and  on  the  left  Leith,  with  the  fifth  divi- 
sion, was  to  make  a  false  attack  upon  the  fort  of 
Pardaleras,  and  a  real  attack  upon  the  bastion  of 
San  Vincente  by  the  river  side.  Across  the  river 
the  Portuguese  division  under  Power  was  to  attack 
the  works  at  the  head  of  the  bridge.  The  night  was 
dark  and  clouded,  and  all  was  as  still  as  death 
outside  the  town,  when  a  lighted  carcass,  that 
is,  a  large  iron  canister  filled  with  tar  and  combus- 
tibles, fell  close  to  the  third  division,  and  exposing 
their  ranks,  forced  them  to  commence  the  attack 
before  the  hour  appointed.  Crossing  the  Rivillas 
by  a  narrow  bridge,  under  a  tremendous  fire,  the 
third  division  assaulted  the  castle,  and  although 
their  scaling-ladders  were  over  and  over  again 
hurled  down,  the  stormers  at  last  obtained  a  footing, 
and  the  rest  of  the  troops  poured  in  and  the  castle 
was  won.  A  similar  and  more  rapid  success  at- 
tended the  assault  on  San  Roque,  which  was  attacked 
so  suddenly  and  violently  that  it  was  taken  with 
scarce  any  resistance.  In  the  meantime  the  assaults 
upon  the  breaches  had  commenced,  and  it  is  best  to 
give  the  account  of  this  terrible  scene  in  the  words 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  309 

of  its  eloquent  and  graphic  historian,  as  the  picture 
is  one  of  the  most  vivid  that  was  ever  drawn. 

"  All  this  time  the  tumult  at  the  breaches  was 
such  as  if  the  very  earth  had  been  rent  asunder, 
and  its  central  fires  bursting  upward  uncontrolled. 
The  two  divisions  had  reached  the  glacis  just  as  the 
firing  at  the  castle  commenced,  and  the  flash  of  a 
single  musket,  discharged  from  the  covered-way  as 
a  signal,  showed  them  that  the  French  were  ready  ; 
yet  no  stir  was  heard,  and  darkness  covered  the 
breaches.  Some  haypacks  were  thrown,  some 
ladders  placed,  and  the  forlorn  hopes  and  storming 
parties  of  the  light  division,  five  hundred  in  all, 
descended  into  the  ditch  without  opposition;  but 
then  a  bright  flame  shooting  upward  displayed  all 
the  terrors  of  the  scene.  The  ramparts  crowded 
with  dark  figures  and  glittering  arms  were  on  one 
side ;  on  the  other  the  red  columns  of  the  British, 
deep  and  broad,  were  coming  on  like  streams  of 
burning  lava.  It  was  the  touch  of  the  magician's 
wand,  for  a  crash  of  thunder  followed,  and  with 
incredible  violence  the  storming  parties  were  dashed 
to  pieces  by  the  explosion  of  hundreds  of  shells  and 
powder -barrels.  For  an  instant  the  light  division 
stood  on  the  brink  of  the  ditch,  amazed  at  the  ter- 
rific sight;  but  then,  with  a  shout  that  matched 
even  the  sound  of  the  explosion,  the  men  flew  down 
the  ladders,  or,  disdaining  their  aid,  leaped,  reckless 
of  the  depth,  into  the  gulf  below — and  at  the  same 
moment,  amid  a  blaze  of  musketry  that  dazzled  the 
eyes,  the  fourth  division  came  running  in,  and 


310  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

descended  with  a  like  fury.  There  were  only  five 
ladders  for  the  two  columns,  which  were  close  to- 
gether ;  and  a  deep  cut,  made  in  the  bottom  of  the 
ditch  as  far  as  the  counter-guard  of  the  Trinidad, 
was  filled  with  water  from  the  inundation.  Into 
that  watery  snare  the  head  of  the  fourth  division 
fell,  and  it  is  said  above  a  hundred  of  the  Fusiliers, 
the  men  of  Albuera,  were  there  smothered.  Those 
who  followed  checked  not,  but,  as  if  such  a  disaster 
had  been  expected,  turned  to  the  left,  and  thus  came 
upon  the  face  of  the  unfinished  ravelin,  which,  being 
rough  and  broken,  was  mistaken  for  the  breach, 
and  instantly  covered  with  men ;  yet  a  wide  and 
deep  chasm  was  still  between  them  and  the  ram- 
parts, from  whence  came  a  deadly  fire,  wasting  their 
ranks.  Thus  baffled,  they  also  commenced  a  rapid 
discharge  of  musketry,  and  disorder  ensued  ;  for  the 
men  of  the  light  division,  whose  conducting  engineer 
had  been  disabled  early,  and  whose  flank  was  con- 
fined by  an  unfinished  ditch  intended  to  cut  off  the 
bastion  of  Santa  Maria,  rushed  toward  the  breaches 
of  the  curtain  and  the  Trinidad,  which  were,  indeed, 
before  them,  but  which  the  fourth  division  had  been 
destined  to  storm.  Great  was  the  confusion,  for 
the  ravelin  was  quite  crowded  with  men  of  both 
divisions,  and  while  some  continued  to  fire,  others 
jumped  down  and  ran  toward  the  breach ;  many 
also  passed  between  the  ravelin  and  the  counter- 
guard  of  the  Trinidad,  the  two  divisions  got  mixed, 
the  reserves,  which  should  have  remained  at  the 
quarries,  also  came  pouring  in,  until  the  ditch  was 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  311 

quite  filled,  the  rear  still  crowding  forward,  and  all 
cheering  vehemently.  The  enemy's  shouts  also  were 
loud  and  terrible,  and  the  bursting  of  shells  and  of 
grenades,  the  roaring  of  guns  from  the  flanks, 
answered  by  the  iron  howitzers  from  the  battery  of 
the  parallel,  the  heavy  roll  and  horrid  explosion  of 
the  powder-barrels,  the  whizzing  flight  of  the  blazing 
splinters,  the  loud  exhortations  of  the  officers,  and 
the  continual  clatter  of  the  muskets  made  a  mad- 
dening din.  Now  a  multitude'  bounded  up  the 
great  breach,  as  if  driven  by  a  whirlwind,  but 
across  the  top  glittered  a  range  of  sword-blades, 
sharp-pointed,  keen-edged  on  both  sides,  and  firmly 
fixed  in  ponderous  beams  chained  together  and  set 
deep  in  the  ruins ;  and  for  ten  feet  in  front  the 
ascent  was  covered  with  loose  planks,  studded  with 
sharp  iron  points,  on  which,  feet  being  set,  the  planks 
moved,  and  the  unhappy  soldiers,  falling  forward 
on  the  spikes,  rolled  down  upon  the  ranks  behind. 
Then  the  Frenchmen,  shouting  at  the  success  of 
their  stratagem  and  leaping  forward,  plied  their 
shot  with  terrible  rapidity,  for  every  man  had 
several  muskets,  and  each  musket,  in  addition 
to  its  ordinary  charge,  contained  a  small 
cylinder  of  wood  stuck  full  of  wooden  slugs, 
which  scattered  like  hail  when  they  were  dis- 
charged. Once  and  again  the  assailants  rushed 
up  the  breaches,  but  always  the  sword-blades, 
immovable  and  impassable,  stopped  their  charge, 
and  the  hissing  shells  and  thundering  powder 
barrels  exploded  unceasingly.  Hundreds  of  men 


312  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

had  fallen,  hundreds  more  were  dropping,  still 
the  heroic  officers  called  aloud  for  new  trials,  and 
sometimes  followed  by  many,  sometimes  by  a  few, 
ascended  the  ruins ;  and  so  furious  were  the  men 
themselves  that  in  one  of  these  charges  the  rear 
strove  to  push  the  foremost  on  to  the  sword- 
blades,  willing  even  to  make  a  bridge  of  their 
writhing  bodies,  but  the  others  frustrated  the  attempt 
by  dropping  down  ;  and  men  fell  so  fast  from  the  shot 
it  was  hard  to  know  who  went  down  voluntarily, 
who  were  stricken,  and  many  stooped  unhurt  that 
never  rose  again.  Vain  also  would  it  have  been  to 
break  through  the  sword-blades,  for  the  trench  and 
parapet  behind  the  breach  were  finished,  and  the 
assailants,  crowded  into  even  a  narrower  space  than 
the  ditch  was,  would  still  have  been  separated  from 
their  enemies,  and  the  slaughter  would  have  con- 
tinued. At  the  beginning  of  this  dreadful  conflict 
Andrew  Barnard  had,  with  prodigious  efforts,  sep- 
arated his  division  from  the  other,  and  preserved 
some  degree  of  military  array  ;  but  now  the  tumult 
was  such,  no  command  would  be  heard  distinctly 
except  by  those  close  at  hand,  and  the  mutilated 
carcasses  heaped  on  each  other,  and  the  wounded 
struggling  to  avoid  being  trampled  upon,  broke  the 
formations ;  order  was  impossible !  Officers  of  all 
ranks,  followed  more  or  less  numerously  by  the 
men,  were  seen  to  start  out  as  if  struck  by  sudden 
madness,  and  rush  into  the  breach,  which,  yawning 
and  glittering  with  steel,  seemed  like  the  mouth  of 
a  huge  dragon  belching  forth  smoke  and  flame.  In 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  313 

one  of  these  attempts  Colonel  Macleod,  of  the 
Forty-third,  a  young  man  whose  feeble  body  would 
hare  been  quite  unfit  for  war  if  it  had  not  been  sus- 
tained by  an  unconquerable  spirit,  was  killed; 
wherever  his  voice  was  heard  his  soldiers  had  gath- 
ered, and  with  such  a  strong  resolution  did  he  lead 
them  up  the  fatal  ruins  that  when  one  behind  him, 
in  falling,  plunged  a  bayonet  into  his  back,  he  com- 
plained not;  but,  continuing  his  course,  was  shot 
dead  within  a  yard  of  the  sword-blades.  Yet  there 
was  no  want  of  gallant  leaders  or  desperate  follow- 
ers, until  two  hours  passed  in  these  vain  efforts  had 
convinced  the  troops  the  breach  of  the  Trinidad  was 
impregnable ;  and  as  the  opening  in  the  curtain, 
although  less  strong,  was  retired,  and  the  approach 
to  it  impeded  by  deep  holes  and  cuts  made  in  the 
ditch,  the  soldiers  did  not  much  notice  it  after  the 
partial  failure  of  one  attack  which  had  been  made 
early.  Gathering  in  dark  groups  and  leaning  on 
their  muskets,  they  looked  up  with  sullen  despera- 
tion at  the  Trinidad,  while  the  enemy,  stepping  out 
on  the  ramparts,  and  aiming  their  shots  by  the 
light  of  the  fire-balls  which  they  threw  over,  asked, 
as  their  victims  fell,  'Why  they  did  not  come 
into  Badajos  ?'  In  this  dreadful  situation,  while  the 
dead  were  lying  in  heaps,  and  others  continually 
falling,  the  wounded  crawling  about  to  get  some 
shelter  from  the  merciless  shower  above,  and  withal 
a  sickening  stench  from  the  burned  flesh  of  the 
slain,  Captain  Nicholas,  of  the  Engineers,  was  ob- 
served by  Lieutenant  Shaw,  of  the  Forty-third, 


314  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

making  incredible  efforts  to  force  his  way  with  a 
few  men  into  the  Santa  Maria  bastion.  Shaw  im- 
mediately collected  fifty  soldiers,  of  all  regiments, 
and  joined  him,  and  although  there  was  a  deep  cut 
along  the  foot  of  that  breach  also,  it  was  instantly 
passed,  and  these  two  young  officers  led  their  gal- 
lant band,  with  a  rush,  up  the  ruins ;  but  when  they 
had  gained  two-thirds  of  the  ascent  a  concentrated  fire 
of  musketry  and  grape  dashed  nearly  the  whole  dead 
to  the  earth.  Nicholas  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
the  intrepid  Shaw  stood  alone !  With  inexpressible 
coolness  he  looked  at  his  watch,  and,  saying  it  was 
too  late  to  carry  the  breaches,  rejoined  the  masses 
at  the  other  attack.  After  this  no  further  effort 
was  made  at  any  point,  and  the  troops  remained 
passive  but  unflinching  beneath  the  enemy^s  shot, 
which  streamed  without  intermission ;  for  of  the 
riflemen  on  the  glacis  many  leaped  early  into  the 
ditch  and  joined  in  the  assault,  and  the  rest,  raked 
by  a  cross-fire  of  grape  from  the  distant  bastions, 
baffled  in  their  aim  by  the  smoke  and  flames  from 
the  explosions,  and  too  few  in  number,  entirely 
failed  to  quell  the  French  musketry.  About  mid- 
night, when  two  thousand  brave  men  had  fallen, 
Wellington,  who  was  on  a  height  close  to  the  quar- 
ries, ordered  the  remainder  to  retire  and  re-form  for 
a  second  assault ;  he  had  heard  the  castle  was  taken, 
but,  thinking  the  enemy  would  still  resist  in  the 
town,  was  resolved  to  assail  the  breaches  again. 
This  retreat  from  the  ditch  was  not  effected  without 
further  carnage  and  confusion ;  the  French  fire 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  315 

never  slackened.  A  cry  arose  that  the  enemy  was 
making  a  sally  from  the  distant  flanks,  and  there 
was  a  rush  toward  the  ladders.  Then  the  groans 
and  lamentations  of  the  wounded,  who  could  not 
move  and  expected  to  be  slain,  increased,  and  many 
officers  who  had  not  heard  of  the  order  endeavored 
to  stop  the  soldiers  from  going  back ;  some  would 
even  have  removed  the  ladders,  but  were  unable  to 
break  the  crowd." 

While  this  terrible  scene  was  passing  the  victory 
had  been  decided  elsewhere.  The  capture  of  the 
castle  by  Picton  would,  in  itself,  have  caused  the 
fall  of  the  town  upon  the  following  day,  but  Leith, 
with  the  fifth  division,  after  hard  fighting,  scaled 
the  St.  Vincente  bastion,  and  came  up  through  the 
town  and  took  the  defenders  of  the  breaches  in  the 
rear.  Then  the  French  gave  way,  the  British 
poured  in,  and  the  dreadful  scenes  which  had  marked 
the  fall  of  Ciudad  Rodrigo  were  repeated,  and  even 
surpassed.  Up  to  the  present  day  the  name  of  an 
Englishman  is  coupled  with  a  curse  in  the  town  of 
Badajos.  At  this  siege,  as  at  the  last,  the  Scuda- 
mores  acted  the  part  of  lookers-on,  and  although 
they  bitterly  regretted  it,  it  was  well  for  them  that 
it  was  so.  The  capture  of  Badajos  cost  the  allied 
army  five  thousand  men,  of  whom  thirty-five 
hundred  fell  on  the  night  of  the  assault.  Each 
of  the  divisions  which  attacked  the  breaches  lost 
over  twelve  hundred  men,  and  the  Fifty-second 
Regiment,  who  formed  part  of  the  light  division, 
lost  their  full  share.  Among  the  ranks  of  the 


316  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

officers  the  slaughter  was  particularly  great,  and 
scarce  one  escaped  without  a  wound.  The  Scuda- 
mores  would  fain  have  volunteered  to  join  their 
regiment  in  the  assault,  but  it  was  well  known  that 
Lord  Wellington  would  not  allow  staff  officers  to  go 
outside  their  own  work.  Therefore  they  had  looked 
on  with  beating  hearts  and  pale  faces,  and  with 
tears  in  their  eyes,  at  that  terrible  tight  at  the 
Trinidad,  and  had  determined  that  when  morning 
came  they  would  resign  their  staff  appointments 
and  ask  leave  to  join  their  regiment.  But  when 
morning  came,  and  the  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded 
was  sent  in,  and  they  went  dov/n  with  a  party  to 
the  breach  to  collect  the  wounded,  they  could  not 
but  feel  that  they  had  in  all  probability  escaped 
death,  or  what  a  soldier  fears  more,  mutilation. 
"  After  all,  Tom,"  Peter  said,  "  we  have  done  some 
active  service,  and  our  promotion  shows  that  we  are 
not  cowards ;  there  can  be  no  reason  why  we  should 
not  do  our  duty  as  the  chief  has  marked  it  out  for 
us,  especially  when  it  is  quite  as  likely  to  lead  to 
rapid  promotion  as  is  such  a  murderous  business  as 
this."  After  this  no  more  was  said  about  resigning 
the  staff  appointment,  which  gave  them  plenty  of 
hard  work  and  constant  change  of  scene,  whereas 
had  they  remained  with  the  regiment  they  would 
often  have  been  stationed  for  months  in  one  place 
without  a  move. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  31? 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

SALAMANCA. 

THE  great  triumphs  of  Ciudad  Rodrigo  and 
Badajos  did  not  lead  to  the  rapid  successes  which 
Wellington  had  hoped.  The  French  generals,  on 
hearing  of  the  loss  of  the  latter  fortress,  again  fell 
back,  and  Wellington  was  so  much v  hampered  by 
shortness  of  mone}f,  by  the  inefficiency,  obstinacy, 
and  intrigues  of  the  Portuguese  government,  and 
by  want  of  transport,  that  it  was  nearly  three 
months  before  he  could  get  everything  in  readiness 
for  an  advance  into  Spain.  At  last  all  was  prepared, 
and  on  the  13th  of  June  the  army  once  more  crossed 
the  Agueda,  and  marched  toward  the  Tamar,  in 
four  columns.  On  the  17th  it  was  within  six  miles 
of  Salamanca,  and  Marshal  Marmont,  unable  for 
the  moment  to  stem  the  tide  of  invasion,  evacuated 
the  citv,  which  that  evening  blazed  with  illumina- 

V      ' 

tions,  the  people  being  half  wild  with  joy  at  their 
approaching  deliverance.  The  French,  however, 
had  not  entirely  departed,  for  eight  hundred  men 
still  held  some  very  strong  forts  overlooking  and 
guarding  the  city. 

These  forts  held   out  desperately;    the   British 


318  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

battering  train  was  weak,  and  upon  the  23d  Mar- 
mont,  having  received  considerable  reinforcements, 
advanced  to  raise  the  siege.  Wellington,  however, 
refused  to  be  tempted  to  leave  his  trenches  to 
deliver  a  general  battle,  but  faced  the  enemy  with 
a  portion  of  his  army  w  hile  he  continued  the  siege. 

Marmont,  upon  his  part,  believing  that  the  forts 
could  held  out  for  fifteen  days,  put  off  the  attack, 
as  he  knew  that  large  reinforcements  were  coming 
up.  His  calculations  were  frustrated  by  one  of  the 
forts  taking  fire  on  the  27th  when  an  assault  was 
delivered,  and  the  whole  of  the  forts  surrendered ; 
Marmont  at  once  fell  back  across  the  Douro,  there 
to  await  the  arrival  of  his  reinforcements. 

Wellington,  on  his  part,  followed  slowly,  and  his 
army  took  up  a  position  between  Canizal  and 
Castrejon,  thereby  covering  the  roads  from  Toro 
and  Tordesillas,  the  only  points  at  which  the 
French  could  cross  the  river.  The  reports  of  the 
spies  all  agreed  that  the  former  was  the  place  at 
which  the  crossing  would  be  made. 

On  the  16th  of  July  an  officer  rode  into  Canizal 
at  headlong  pace,  with  the  news  that  a  reconnoiter- 
ing  party  had  crossed  the  Douro  that  morning  near 
Tordesillas,  and  had  found  that  place  deserted,  ex- 
cept by  a  garrison;  and  an  hour  later  the  news 
came  in  that  three  divisions  of  the  enemy  were  al- 
ready across  the  river  at  Toro.  Five  minutes  later 
the  Scudamores  were  on  horseback,  carrying  orders 
that  the  whole  of  the  army,  with  the  exception  of 
the  fourth  and  light  divisions,  which  were  on  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  319 

Trabancos,  under  General  Cotton,  were  to  concen- 
trate at  Canizal  that  night.  By  the  morning  the 
movement  was  accomplished. 

The  day  wore  on  in  somewhat  anxious  expecta- 
tion, and  toward  afternoon  Wellington,  accom- 
panied by  Lord  Beresford,  and  escorted  by  Alton's, 
Bock's,  and  Le  Marchant's  brigades  of  cavalry, 
started  to  make  a  reconnaissance  of  the  enemy's 
movements.  Caution  was  needed  for  the  advance, 
as  it  was  quite  uncertain  whether,  the  French  were 
pushing  on  through  the  open  country  toward 
Canizal  or  whether  they  were  following  the  direct 
road  from  Toro  to  Salamanca.  Evening  closed  in, 
but  no  signs  of  the  French  army  were  seen,  and  the 
party  halted  about  six  miles  from  Toro,  and  small 
parties  of  cavalry  were  dispatched  right  and  left  to 
scour  the  country,  and  find  out  where  the  enemy 
had  gone. 

"  It's  very  strange  where  the  French  can  have 
got  to,"  was  the  remark  made  for  the  fiftieth  time 
among  the  staff. 

The  detached  parties  returned,  bringing  no  news 
whatever,  and  Lord  Wellington  again  advanced 
slowly  and  cautiously  toward  Toro.  Small  parties 
were  pushed  on  ahead,  and  presently  an  officer  rode 
back  with  the  news  that  he  had  been  as  far  as  the 
river,  and  that  not  a  Frenchman  was  to  be  seen.  It 
was  too  late  to  do  any  more,  and  they  remained  in 
uncertainty  whether  the  enemy  had  recrossed  the 
river  after  making  a  demonstration,  or  whether 
they  had  marched  to  their  right,  so  as  to  make  a 


320  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

circuit,  and  throw  themselves  between  Ciudad  Rod- 
rigo  and  Salamanca,  upon  the  line  of  communication 
of  the  British  army. 

Lord  Wellington  with  his  staff  took  possession  of 
a  deserted  farmhouse,  the  cavalry  picketed  their 
horses  round  it,  and  the  Scudamores,  who  had  been 
more  than  twenty-four  hours  in  the  saddle,  wrapped 
themselves  in  their  cloaks,  and  stretching  themselves 
on  the  floor,  were  soon  asleep.  Just  at  midnight 
the  sound  of  a  horse's  footfall  approaching  at  a 
gallop  was  heard,  and  an  officer,  who  had  ridden 
without  drawing  rein  from  Canizal,  dashed  up  to 
the  farm. 

Five  minutes  later  the  whole  party  were  in  the 
saddle  again.  The  news  was  important  indeed. 
Marmont  had  drawn  his  whole  arm}'  back  across 
the  Toro  on  the  night  of  the  16th,  had  marched  to 
Tordesillas,  crossed  there,  and  in  the  afternoon,  after 
a  march  of  fifty  miles,  had  fallen  upon  Cotton's 
outposts  and  driven  them  across  the  Trabancos. 

Not  a  moment's  time  was  lost  bv  Wellington  after 

•/  o 

he  received  the  news ;  but,  unfortunately,  six  pre- 
cious hours  had  already  been  wasted,  owing  to  the 
dispatches  not  having  reached  him  at  Canizal. 
With  the  three  brigades  of  cavalry  he  set  off  at 
once  toward  Alaejos,  while  an  officer  was  dispatched 
to  Canizal  to  order  the  fifth  division  to  march  with 
all  speed  to  Torrecilla  de  la  Orden,  six  miles  in  rear 
of  Cotton's  position  at  Castrejon. 

Four  hours'  riding  brought  them  to  Alaejos,  where 
a  halt  for  two  or  three  hours  was  ordered  to  rest 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  321 

the  weary  horses  and  men.  Soon  after  daybreak, 
however,  all  thought  of  sleep  was  banished  by  the 
roar  of  artillery,  which  told  that  Marmont  was 
pressing  hard  upon  Cotton's  troops.  "  To  horse  !" 
was  the  cry,  and  Lords  Wellington  and  Beresford, 
with  their  staff,  rode  off  at  full  speed  toward  the 
scene  of  action,  with  the  cavalry  following  hard 

t  u  CU 

upon  their  heels.  An  hour's  ride  brought  them  to 
the  ground.  Not  much  could  be  seen,  for  the  coun- 
try was  undulating  and  bare,  like  the  Brighton 
Downs,  and  each  depression  was  full  of  the  white 
morning  mist,  which  wreathed  and  tossed  fantas- 
tically from  the  effects  of  the  discharges  of  firearms, 
the  movements  of  masses  of  men,  and  the  charges 
of  cavalry  hidden  within  it.  Upon  a  crest  near  at 
hand  were  a  couple  of  British  guns,  with  a  small 
escort  of  horse. 

Suddenly,  from  the  mist  below,  a  party  of  some 
fifty  French  horsemen  dashed  out  and  made  for  the 
guns.  The  supporting  squadron,  surprised  by  the 
suddenness  of  the  attack,  broke  and  fled ;  the  French 
followed  hard  upon  them,  and  just  as  Lord  Welling- 
ton, with  his  staff,  gained  the  crest,  pursuers  and 
pursued  came  upon  them,  and  in  pellmell  confusion 
the  whole  were  borne  down  to  the  bottom  of  the 
hill.  For  a  few  minutes  it  was  a  wild  melee. 
Lords  Wellington,  Beresford,  and  their  staff,  with 
their  swords  drawn,  were  in  the  midst  of  the  fight, 
and  friends  and  foes  were  mingled  together,  when 
the  leading  squadrons  of  the  cavalry  from  Alaejos 
came  thundering  down,  and  very  few  of  the  French 


322  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

men  who  had  made  that  gallant  charge  escaped  to 
tell  the  tale. 

The  mists  were  now  rapidly  clearing  up,  and  in  a 
short  time  the  whole  French  army  could  be  seen 
advancing.  They  moved  toward  the  British  left, 
and  Wellington  ordered  the  troops  at  once  to  retire. 
The  British  fell  back  in  three  columns,  and  marched 
for  the  Guarena,  through  Torrecilla  de  la  Orden. 
The  French  also  marched  straight  for  the  river,  and 
now  one  of  the  most  singular  sights  ever  presented 
in  warfare  was  to  be  seen. 

The  hostile  armies  were  marching  abreast,  the 
columns  being  but  a  few  hundred  yards  apart,  the 
officers  on  either  side  waving  their  hands  to .  each 
other.  For  ten  miles  the  armies  thus  pressed  for- 
ward, the  officers  urging  the  men,  and  these  strain- 
ing every  nerve  to  get  first  to  the  river.  From 
time  to  time  the  artillery  of  either  side,  finding  a 
convenient  elevation,  would  pour  a  few  volleys  of 
grape  into  the  opposing  columns,  but  the  position 
of  the  two  armies  did  not  often  admit  of  this. 
Gradually  Cotton's  men,  fresher  than  the  French, 
who  had  in  the  two  previous  days  marched  fifty 
miles,  gained  ground,  and,  reaching  the  river, 
marched  across  by  the  ford,  the  winners  of  the 
great  race  by  so  little  that  one  division,  which 
halted  for  a  moment  to  drink,  was  swept  by  forty 
pieces  of  French  artillery,  which  arrived  on  the 
spot  almost  simultaneously  with  it. 

On  the  Guarena  the  British  found  the  remaining 
divisions  of  the  army,  which  had  been  brought  up 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  323 

from  Canizal.  These  checked  Marmont  in  an  at- 
tempt to  cross  at  Yallesa,  while  the  Twenty-ninth 
and  Fortieth  Regiments,  with  a  desperate  bayonet 
charge,  drove  Carier's  French  division  back  as  it 
attempted  to  push  forward  beyond  Castrillo.  Thus 
the  two  armies  faced  each  other  on  the  Guarena, 
and  Marmont  had  gained  absolutely  nothing  by  his 
false  movement  at  Toro,  and  his  long  and  skillful 
detour  by  Tordesillas. 

Quickly  the  rest  of  the  day  passed,  as  did  the  one 
which  followed,  the  troops  on  both  sides  resting 
after  their  fatigues.  Wellington  expected  to  be 
attacked  on  the  next  morning,  and  his  army  was 
arranged  in  two  lines  ready  for  the  combat.  At 
daybreak,  however,  Marmont  moved  his  army  up 
the  river,  crossed  at  a  ford  there,  and  marched 
straight  for  Salamanca,  thus  turning  Wellington's 
right,  and  threatening  his  communications.  The 
British  at  once  fell  back,  and  the  scene  of  the 
previous  day  wras  repeated,  the  armies  marching 
along  the  crest  of  two  parallel  hills,  within  musket 
shot  distance  of  each  other. 

This  time,  however,  the  French  troops,  although 
they  had  marched  considerably  further  than  the 
English,  proved  themselves  the  best  marchers,  and 
when  night  fell  Wellington  had  the  mortification 
of  seeing  them  in  possession  of  the  ford  of  Huerta 
on  the  Tormes,  thus  securing  for  Marmont  the  junc- 
tion with  an  army  which  was  approaching  under 
King  Joseph,  and  also  the  option  of  either  fighting 
or  refusing  battle.  Wellington  felt  his  position 


324  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

seriously  threatened,  and  sent  off  a  dispatch  to  the 
Spanish  General  Castanos,  stating  his  inability  to 
hold  his  ground,  and  the  probability  that  he  should 
be  obliged  to  fall  back  upon  Portugal.  This  letter 
proved  the  cause  of  the  victory  of  Salamanca,  for 
it  was  intercepted  by  the  French,  and  Marmont, 
fearing  that  Wellington  would  escape  him,  prepared 
at  once  to  throw  himself  upon  the  road  to  Ciudad 
Eodrigo,  and  thus  cut  the  British  line  of  retreat,  in 
spite  of  the  positive  order  which  he  had  received 
from  King  Joseph  not  to  fight  until  he  himself 
arrived  with  his  army. 

Upon  the  21st  both  armies  crossed  the  Tormes, 
the  French  at  Alba  and  Huerta,  the  British  at 
Aldea  Lengua,  and  San  Marta.  Upon  that  day  the 
news  reached  Wellington  that  General  Chauvel, 
with  two  thousand  cavalry  and  twenty  guns, 
would  reach  Marmont  on  the  evening  of  the  22d 
or  the  morning  of  the  23d,  and  the  English  general 
therefore  resolved  to  retreat,  unless  Marmont 
should,  by  some  mistake,  give  him  a  chance  of  fight- 
ing to  advantage. 

Close  to  the  British  right,  and  the  French  left, 
were  two  steep  and  rugged  hills,  called  the 
Hermanitos,  or  Brothers,  and  soon  after  daybreak 
on  the  22d  the  French  seized  upon  the  one  nearest 
to  them,  while  the  British  took  possession  of  the 
other  Then  watching  each  other,  the  two  armies 
remained  until  noon,  for  Wellington  could  not  com- 
mence his  retreat  by  daylight ;  but  a  long  cloud  of 
dust  along  the  road  to  Ciudad  Kodrigo  showed  that 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  325 

the  baggage  of  the  army  was  already  en  route  for 
Portugal.  Marmont  now  determined  to  make  a 
bold  stroke  to  cut  off  Wellington's  retreat,  and,  al- 
though all  his  troops  had  not  yet  arrived,  he  ordered 
JVIaucune,  with  two  divisions,  to  march  round  by 
the  left  and  menace  the  Ciudad  road.  It  was  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  Wellington,  who 
had  been  up  all  night,  thinking  that  Marmont 
would  make  no  move  that  day,  had  gone  to  lie 
down  for  an  hour  or  two,  when  Tom  Scudamore, 
who  from  an  elevated  point  was  watching  the 
movements  of  the  enemy,  hurried  in  with  the  news 
that  the  French  were  pushing  their  left  round 
toward  the  Ciudad  road. 

Wellington  leaped  to  his  feet  and  hurried  to  the 
high  ground,  where  he  beheld  with  stern  satisfac- 
tion that  Marmont,  in  his  eagerness  to  prevent  the 
British  escape,  had  committed  the  flagrant  error  of 
detaching  his  wing  from  his  main  body.  Instantly 
he  issued  orders  for  an  attack,  and  the  great  mass 
of  men  upon  the  British  Hermanito  moved  down 
upon  the  plain  to  attack  Maucune  in  flank,  while 
the  third  division  was  ordered  to  throw  itself  across 
his  line  of  march,  and  to  attack  him  in  front.  As 
the  advance  across  the  plain  would  be  taken  in  flank 
by  the  fire  from  the  French  Hermanito,  General 
Pack  was  ordered  to  assail  that  position  directly  the 
British  line  had  passed  it. 

Marmont,  standing  on  the  French  Hermanito, 
was  thunderstruck  at  beholding  the  plain  suddenly 
covered  with  enemies,  and  a  tremendous  fire  was  at 


326  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

once  opened  upon  the  advancing  British.  Officer 
after  officer  was  dispatched  to  hurry  up  the  French 
troops  still  upon  the  march,  and  when  Marmont  saw 
the  third  division  dash  across  Maucune's  path,  he 
was  upon  the  point  of  hurrying  himself  to  the  spot, 
when  a  shell  burst  close  to  him,  and  he  was  dashed 
to  the  earth  with  a  broken  arm,  and  two  deep 
wounds  in  his  side. 

Thus,  at  the  critical  point  of  the  battle,  the 
French  army  was  left  without  a  head. 

It  was  just  five  o'clock  when  Pakenham,  with  the 
third  division,  fell  like  a  thunderbolt  upon  the  head 
of  Maucune's  troops.  These,  taken  by  surprise  by 
this  attack  on  the  part  of  an  enemy  whom  they 
had  thought  to  see  in  full  flight,  yet  fought 
gallantly,  and  strove  to  gain  time  to  open  out  into 
order  of  battle.  Bearing  onward,  however,  with 
irresistible  force,  the  third  division  broke  the  head 
of  the  column,  and  drove  it  back  upon  its  supports. 
Meanwhile,  the  battle  raged  all  along  the  line ;  in 
the  plain  the  fourth  division  carried  the  village  of 
Arapiles,  and  drove  back  Bonnet's  division  with 
the  bayonet,  and  the  fifth  division  attacked  Mau- 
cune's command  in  flank,  while  Pakenham  was 
destroying  its  front. 

Marmont  was  succeeded  in  his  command  by  Bon- 
net, who  was  also  wounded,  and  Clausel,  an  able 
general,  took  the  command.  He  reinforced  Mau- 
cune  with  his  own  divisions,  which  had  just  arrived, 
and  for  awhile  restored  the  battle.  Tiicn,  past  the 
right  and  left  of  Pakenham's  division,  the  British 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  327 

cavalry,  under  Le  Marchant,  Anson,  and  d'Urban, 
burst  through  the  smoke  and  dust,  rode  down  twelve 
hundred  of  the  French  infantry,  and  then  dashed 
on  at  the  line  behind.  Nobly  the  charge  was 
pressed,  the  third  division  following  at  a  run,  and 
the  charge  ceased  not  until  the  French  left  was 
entirely  broken,  and  five  guns  and  two  thousand 
prisoners  taken. 

But  forty  minutes  had  passed  since  the  first  gun 
was  fired,  and  the  French  defeat  was  already  all  but 
irretrievable,  and  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  divi- 
sions, now  in  line,  swept  forward  as  to  assured  vic- 
tory. Clausel,  however,  proved  equal  to  the  emer- 
gency. He  reinforced  Bonnet's  division  with  that 
of  Fereij,  as  yet  fresh  and  unbroken,  and,  at  the 
same  moment,  Sarrut's  and  Brennier's  divisions 
issued  from  the  forest,  and  formed  in  the  line  of 
battle.  Behind  them  the  broken  troops  of  Mau- 
cune's  two  divisions  re-formed,  and  the  battle  was 
renewed  with  terrible  force. 

Pack,  at  the  same  moment,  attempted  unsuccess- 
fully to  carry  the  French  Hermanito  by  assault  with 
his  Portuguese  division,  and  the  fate  of  the  battle 
was  again  in  the  balance ;  the  British  divisions,  out- 
numbered and  outflanked,  began  to  fall  back. 
Generals  Cole,  Leith  and  Spry  were  all  wounded, 
and  the  French  cavalry  threatened  the  flank  of  the 
line.  Wellington,  however,  had  still  plenty  of  re- 
serves in  hand,  and  at  this  critical  moment  he 
launched  them  at  the  enemy.  The  sixth  division 
was  brought  up  from  the  second  line,  and  hurled  at 


328  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

the  center  of  the  enemy  in  a  fierce  and  prolonged 
charge,  while  the  light  and  first  divisions  were 
directed  against  the  French  divisions  which  were 
descending  from  the  French  Hermanito,  and  against 
that  of  Foy,  while  the  seventh  division  and  the 
Spaniards  were  brought  up  behind  the  first  line. 
Against  so  tremendous  an  assault  as  this  the  French 
could  make  no  stand,  and  were  pushed  back  in  ever- 
increasing  disorder  to  the  edge  of  the  forest,  where 
Foy's  and  Maucune's  divisions  stood  at  bay,  and 
covered  their  retreat  in  the  fast-gathering  darkness. 

Wellington  believed  that  he  should  capture  a 
great  portion  of  the  beaten  army,  for  he  relied  upon 
the  Castle  of  Alba  de  Formes,  commanding  the  ford 
at  that  place,  being  held  by  the  Spaniards,  but  these 
had  evacuated  the  place  on  the  preceding  day,  and 
had  not  even  informed  Wellington  that  they  had 
done  so. 

Thus,  hidden  by  the  night,  the  French  retreated 
with  but  slight  loss  from  the  pursuing  columns.  In 
the  battle  the  French  had  forty-two  thousand  men 
and  seventy-four  guns ;  the  allies  forty -six  thousand 
and  sixty  guns ;  but  of  the  infantry  a  division  were 
composed  of  Spaniards,  and  these  could  not  be 
relied  upon  in  any  way.  It  was  probably  the  most 
rapidly  fought  action  ever  known,  and  a  French 
officer  described  it  as  the  defeat  of  forty  thousand 
men  in  forty  minutes.  The  French  loss  was  over 
twelve  thousand  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners, 
and  so  completely  were  they  dispersed  that  Clausel 
a  week  afterward  could  only  collect  twenty  thou- 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  329 

sand  to  their  standards.  It  was  a  great  victory,  and 
celebrated  as  the  first  which  Wellington  had  gained 
over  the  French,  for  although  at  Talavera  and 
Busaco  he  had  repulsed  the  French  attack,  he  was 
not,  in  either  case,  in  a  position  to  do  more  than 
hold  his  ground. 

Throughout  this  short  and  desperate  fight  the 
Scudamores  had  been  fully  engaged  in  conveying 
orders  from  one  part  of  the  field  to  another.  Shot 
and  shell  flew  around  them  in  all  directions,  and  yet 
when  they  met  at  the  end  of  the  action  they  found 
that  they  had  escaped  without  a  scratch.  The  day 
following  the  battle  the  pursuit  began.  Had  King 
Joseph's  advancing  army  united  with  Clausel's 
broken  troops  he  could  have  opposed  Wellington's 
advance  with  a  force  far  superior  in  numbers  to  that 
defeated  at  Salamanca.  But  Joseph,  after  hesi- 
tating, fell  back  in  one  direction,  Clausel  retreated 
in  another,  the  opportunity  for  concentration  was 
lost,  and  Wellington  found  no  foe  to  bar  his  way  on 
his  triumphant  march  upon  Madrid. 

Joseph  fell  back  from  the  capital  as  the  English 
approached,  leaving  some  thousands  of  men  in  the 
strong  place  known  as  the  Retiro,  together  with  an 
immense  amount  of  arms,  ammunition,  and  military 
stores  of  all  kinds,  all  of  which,  including  the 
troops,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English  within  a 
few  days  of  their  arrival  at  Madrid. 

It  was  a  proud  moment  for  the  Scudamores,  as 
riding  behind  Lord  Wellington  they  entered  Madrid 
on  the  14th  of  August. 


330  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

The  city  was  half  mad  with  joy.  Crowds  lined 
the  streets,  while  every  window  and  balcony  along 
the  route  was  filled  with  ladies,  who  waved  their 
scarfs,  clapped  their  hands,  and  showered  flowers 
upon  the  heads  of  their  deliverers.  Those  below, 
haggard  and  half  starved,  for  the  distress  in  Madrid 
was  intense,  thronged  round  the  general's  horse,  a 
shouting,  weeping  throng,  kissing  his  cloak,  his 
horse,  any  portion  of  his  equipments  which  they 
could  touch.  Altogether  it  was  one  of  the  most 
glorious,  most  moving,  most  enthusiastic  welcomes 
ever  offered  to  a  general. 

The  next  fortnight  was  spent  in  a  round  of  fetes, 
bull  fights,  and  balls,  succeeding  each  other  rapidly, 
but  these  rejoicings  were  but  a  thin  veil  over  the 
distress  which  was  general  throughout  the  town. 
The  people  were  starving,  and  many  deaths  oc- 
curred daily  from  hunger.  The  British  could  do 
but  little  to  relieve  the  suffering  which  they  saw 
around  them,  for  they  themselves  were — owing  to  the 
utter  breakdown  of  all  the  arrangements  undertaken 
by  the  Portuguese  government,  and  to  the  indeci- 
sion and  incapacity  of  the  home  government — badly 
fed,  and  much  in  arrears  of  their  pay.  Nevertheless, 
the  officers  did  what  they  could,  got  up  soup 
kitchens,  and  fed  daily  many  hundreds  of  starving 
wretches. 

The  heat  was  excessive  and  a  very  great  deal  of 
illness  took  place  among  the  troops.  The  French 
were  gathering  strength  in  the  south,  and  Welling- 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  331 

ton  determined  upon  marching  north  and  seizing 
Burgos,  an  important  place,  but  poorly  fortified. 
Leaving  General  Hill  with  two  divisions  at  Madrid, 
he  marched  with  the  rest  of  the  army  upon  Burgos. 


332  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

CAUGHT     IN     A     TRAP. 

So  much  had  passed  between  the  first  visit  of  the 
Scudamores  to  Madrid  as  Spanish  peasant  boys, 
and  their  second  entry  as  captains  upon  Lord  Wel- 
lington's staff,  that  they  had  scarcely  given  a 
thought  to  the  dangers  they  had  at  that  time  run, 
or  to  the  deadly  hatred  with  which  they  had  in- 
spired the  guerrilla  chief  Nunez.  When  they  first 
rode  into  the  town,  indeed,  they  had  spoken  of  it 
one  to  the  other,  and  had  agreed  that  it  would  be 
pleasant  to  be  able  to  walk  through  the  streets 
without  fear  of  assassination  ;  for  even,  as  Tom. 
said,  if  the  scoundrel  had  any  of  his  band  there, 
they  would  not  be  likely  to  recognize  them  in  their 
uniforms. 

One  evening,  however,  when  they  had  been  in 
Madrid  about  a  fortnight,  an  incident  happened 
which  caused  them  to  doubt  whether  their  security 
from  the  hatred  of  the  guerrilla  was  as  complete  as 
they  had  fancied.  They  were  sitting  with  a  number  of 
other  officers  in  a  large  cafe  in  the  Puerta  del  Sol, 
the  principal  square  in  Madrid,  when  a  girl  came 
round  begging;  instead  of  holding  out  her  hand 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  333 

silently  with  a  murmur  for  charity  in  the  name  of 
the  holy  Virgin,  she  began  a  long  story,  poured  out 
in  rapid  language. 

Several  of  the  officers  present  knew  more  or  less 
Spanish,  but  they  were  unable  to  follow  her  quick 
utterances,  and  one  of  them  said  laughingly, 
"  Scudamore,  this  is  a  case  for  you,  she  is  beyond  us 
altogether." 

The  girl  followed  the  direction  of  the  speaker's 
eye,  and  moved  across  to  the  brothers,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  sitting  next  to  each  other,  and  began 
her  story  again.  It  was  a  complicated  tale  of 
French  oppression,  and  the  boys,  interrupting  her 
here  and  there  to  ask  for  details,  talked  with  her 
for  some  minutes. 

"  I  believe  she  is  lying,"  Tom  said  in  English; 
"she  tells  her  story  as  if  she  had  learned  it  by 
heart,  and  gets  confused  whenever  we  cross-ques- 
tion her ;  there,  give  her  a  few  coppers,  I  am  out  of 
change." 

As  Peter  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket  for  the 
money,  Tom  glanced  up  sharply  at  the  girl.  She 
was  not,  as  might  have  been  expected,  watching 
Peter's  movements  with  interest,  but  was  looking 
inquiringly  at  some  one  in  the  crowd  of  prome- 
naders.  Tom  followed  her  glance,  and  saw  a  peas- 
ant, standing  half -hidden  behind  a  group  of  passers, 
nod  to  her,  and  motion  her  to  come  to  him.  She 
waited  until  Peter  put  the  coins  into  her  hand; 
then,  with  a  brief  word  of  thanks,  she  moved  away 
into  the  crowd. 


334  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"Peter,  I  believe  those  scoundrels  are  up  to  their 
old  game,  and  that  we  are  watched.  Once  or  twice 
since  we  have  been  sitting  here  I  have  noticed  a 
heavy-looking  fellow  glance  at  us  very  closely  as  he 
passed,  and  I  just  saw  the  same  fellow,  who  was 
evidently  hiding  from  observation,  nod  to  that  girl, 
and  beckon  her  away." 

"Her  story  was  a  lie  from  beginning  to  end," 
Peter  said,  "  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  it  was  a  got 
up  thing,  on  purpose  to  see  whether  we  could  talk 
Spanish  well.  I  don't  think  any  one  could  swear 
to  us  who  only  saw  us  then ;  but  the  fact  of  our 
speaking  Spanish  so  well  would  go  a  long  way  to- 
ward settling  the  point  in  the  mind  of  any  one  who 
suspected  us !" 

"  We  must  be  careful  in  future,  Peter,  and  avoid 
quiet  streets  after  dark,  and  keep  a  sharp  lookout 
at  all  times,  or  we  shall  get  a  knife  between  our 
ribs,  as  sure  as  fate." 

Time,  however,  passed  on  without  anything  oc- 
curring to  give  any  support  to  their  suspicion ;  they 
could  not  discover  that  they  were  being  watched  or 
their  footsteps  dogged.  They  nevertheless  contin- 
ued to  be,  to  a  certain  extent,  upon  their  guard  after 
dark ;  in  the  daytime  the  number  of  English  soldiers 
about  the  streets  was  so  large  that  there  was  very 
little  danger  of  any  attack. 

On  the  evening  before  the  army  marched  for 
Burgos,  Tom,  whose  turn  it  was  for  duty  at  head- 
quarters, received  a  dispatch  to  carry  to  one  of  the 
generals  of  division  encamped  a  mile  or  two  out  of 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  335 

the  town.  He  did  not  need  to  go  round  to  his 
quarters,  as  his  horse  was  standing  saddled  in  readi- 
ness in  the  courtyard.  He  was  but  an  hour  away, 
and,  as  he  knew  that  he  would  not  be  further 
required,  he  rode  round  to  the  house  where  he  was 
quartered.  His  orderly  came  forward  at  his  shout 
and  took  his  horse,  and  he  mounted  the  broad  stairs 
of  the  house,  which  was  a  very  handsome  one,  and 
rang  at  the  door  on  the  second  floor  ;  for  in  Spain, 
as  indeed  almost  all  over  the  Continent,  each  floor 
is  a  separate  dwelling. 

Sam  opened  it. 

"  Nothing  new,  Sam  ?" 

"  No,  sar,  nothing  new." 

Tom  passed  through  the  sitting-room  and  entered 
Peter's  bedroom.  It  was  in  darkness. 

"Asleep,  old  man  ?"  he  asked. 

There  was  no  answer.  He  came  back  into  the 
sitting-room,  where  two  lamps  were  burning,  and 
looked  at  his  watch.  "  Half-past  eleven.  He  is  off 
to  bed  early.  Sam,  bring  me  some  supper  if  you 
have  got  anything;  I  am  hungry," 

Sam  came  in,  in  a  minute,  with  a  small  tray. 

"  How  long  has  my  brother  been  gone  to  bed  ?" 

"  Me  did  not  know  he  gone  to  bed  at  all,"  Sam 
said  in  surprise.  "  Me  thought  Massa  Peter  been 
reading  book." 

Tom  took  up  a  light  and  went  into  the  bedroom  ; 
it  was  empty.  "  Sam,  there's  something  wrong 
here !"  Tom  said  sharply,  for  a  sudden  sensation  of 
alarm  seized  him.  "  Peter  is  not  here." 


336  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Sam  came  into  the  bedroom  and  looked  round  in 
astonishment.  "What  become  of  him?"  he  said. 
"Where  de  debil  he  got  to?" 

"  That's  what  I  want  to  know,  Sam.  Now,  then, 
just  give  all  your  attention.  What  time  did  he  come 
in?" 

"  He  came  in  about  nine  o'clock,  sar,  with  three 
other  officers,  Captain  Farquharson,  Major  Ileriot, 
and  Captain  Brown.  Dey  have  bottle  wine,  and  sit 
here  and  smoke.  Well,  Massa  Tom,  Sam  sit  in  his 
room,  and  smoke  him  pipe,  and  he  doze  off  a  little  ; 
after  a  bit,  maybe  ten  o'clock,  Sam  hear  deni  move, 
and  go  to  door ;  they  were  saying  good-night,  when 
Massa  Peter  said,  '  I  will  just  go  down  to  see  that 
the  horses  are  all  right.'  Den  dey  all  go  down 
togeder." 

"  Did  they  shut  the  door  ?"  Tom  asked. 

"  No,  Massa  Tom,  dey  did  not  shut  de  door,  be- 
cause, a  little  while  after,  Sam,  he  wake  up  wid 
little  start ;  he  hear  de  door  bang,  and  'spose  Massa 
Peter  come  back.  Sam  go  off  to  sleep  again  till 
you  ring  bell." 

Tom  looked  very  grave.  "  What  can  Peter  have 
gone  off  Avith  Farquharson  at  this  time  of  night 
for?" 

Then  he  looked  round  the  room  and  said,  almost 
with  a  cry :  "  Sam,  look  there ;  there  are  his  cap 
and  sword.  He  has  not  gone  out  with  the  others 
at  all.  What  can  have  happened  ?" 

Tom  first  glanced  into  his  own  room,  and  then 
ran  downstairs  in  haste,  followed  by  Sam,  who  was 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  337 

now  also  thoroughly  alarmed.  The  orderly  had 
just  made  the  horse  comfortable  for  the  night,  and 
was  leaving  the  stable. 

u  Johnstone,  when  did  you  see  my  brother  ?" 

"  Well,  it  may  be  an  hour,  or  an  hour  and  a  half 
back,  sir.  He  came  down  with  some  other  officers ; 
I  did  not  see  them,  but  I  heard  them  talking  for  a 
minute  or  two  before  he  came  in  to  look  at  the 
horses,  and  he  asked  if  they  were  all  right,  and  said 
they  must  be  saddled  by  half-past  five,  and  then  he 
went  up  again — at  least,  I  suppose  he  went  up,  for 
he  had  not  got  his  cap  on.  Is  anything  wrong, 
sir  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  I  am  afraid  to  think,"  Tom  said, 
in  a  dazed  way.  "  He  is  not  upstairs  ;  he  has  not 
gone  out ;  what  can  have  become  of  him  ?" 

He  stood  quiet  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  then, 
with  a  great  effort,  brought  his  thoughts  within 
control  again.  "  The  first  thing  is  to  assure  our- 
selves whether  he  returned  upstairs.  Sam,  fetch  a 
lamp,  the  stairs  are  not  lighted,  and  I  want  to  ex- 
amine them." 

Sam  soon  returned  with  the  lamp,  and  Tom, 
beginning  at  the  street  door,  examined  every  step 
carefully  all  the  way  up,  Sam  and  the  soldier  follow- 
ing him. 

"  There  has  been  no  scuffle  on  the  stairs,"  he  said ; 
then  he  went  through  the  little  hall  into  the  sitting- 
room  again.  Nothing  appeared  to  have  been  dis- 
turbed. Then  he  looked  at  the  floor,  which  was  of 
polished  oak,  and  knelt  down  to  examine  it  more 


338  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

closely.  "  There  have  been  men  with  dirty  shoes 
standing  here,"  he  cried.  "  Do  you  see  the  marks 
on  each  side  of  the  door,  and  there,  do  you  see  that 
scratch  and  that  ?  There  has  been  a  scuffle. 
Good  heavens !  what  has  taken  place  here  ?" 

Sarn's  face  was  pale  with  apprehension  that  some- 
thing had  happened  to  Peter ;  but  he  said,  "  How 
dat  be,  Massa  Tom,  with  Sam  in  the  next  room  all 
the  time  ?" 

Tom  made  no  reply,  but  was  closely  examining 
the  floor — back  across  the  hall.  "  There  is  a  mark, 
there  is  another,"  he  said,  "  not  made  by  boots,  but 
by  their  native  sandals."  Then  he  went  out  from  the 
door,  and  up  the  next  flight  of  stairs. 

"There,"  he  said,  "just  as  I  thought."  Just 
round  the  angle  of  the  stairs  two  steps  were  dirty 
and  stained,  as  if  dirty  feet  had  been  trampling 
upon  them  for  some  time.  "  I  suppose  they  knew 
I  was  out,  and  watched  here,  for  hours,  perhaps. 
Then,  when  Peter  went  down,  they  slipped  in 
through  the  open  door,  and  then  " — without  com- 
pleting the  sentence,  Tom  went  back  into  the 
room,  and  threw  himself  into  a  chair  in  tearless 
despair. 

Sam  sobbed  loudly.  For  some  time  there  was 
silence.  "  There  is  no  blood,  sir,  that  I  can  see,  not 
a  speck,"  the  orderly  said.  "  They,  can't  have  killed 
Captain  Scudamore,  and  if  they  had,  why  should 
they  have  carried  his  body  away  ?" 

This  was  the  question  Tom  had  been  asking  him- 
self. Assassinations  were,  in  Madrid,  everyday 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  339 

occurrences,  and  that  Peter  and  he  were  especially 
liable  to  be  murdered,  owing  to  the  hatred  of 
Nunez  and  his  gang,  was  clear ;  but  so  far  as  he 
could  see,  not  a  drop  of  blood  had  been  shed  here. 
Presently  Sam  began  to  sob  more  loudly.  "  Dis 
break  my  heart,  Massa  Tom,  to  tink  dat  Sam  be 
next  door  all  de  time,  and,  instead  of  watching,  he 
sleep  so  sound  dat  Massa  Peter  carried  straight 
away." 

"  You  are  not  to  blame,  Sam,  there  was  probably 
no  noise  whatever.  But  what  can  it  all  mean  ? 
Johnstone,  you  had  better  go  to  bed  ;  you  can  do  no 
good  now.  Sam,  give  me  my  pistols ;  take  that  big 
stick  of  yours,  and  come  round  with  me  to  head- 
quarters ;  we  will  call  in  at  Captain  Farquharson's 
on  the  way." 

That  officer,  on  being  roused,  and  made  to  under- 
stand what  was  the  matter,  confirmed  the  account 
given  by  the  orderly ;  he  and  his  companions  had 
parted  at  the  street  door,  and  Peter  had  gone  down 
the  yard  to  the  stable. 

"  It  is  clear  that  Peter  has  been  carried  off,"  Tom 
said,  "  and  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  that  it  has 
been  done  by  some  of  the  band  of  Nunez.  As  you 
have  heard  me  say,  they  owe  us  a  grudge,  and  have 
no  doubt  been  on  the  lookout  ever  since  we  came 
here.  We  have  been  on  guard,  and  never  gave 
them  a  chance,  and  I  suppose  they  got  desperate 
when  they  found  the  army  was  moving  again,  and 
so  carried  out  this  audacious  plan." 

"  If  your  brother  had   been  found   murdered  I 


340  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

should  understand  it,"  Captain  Farquharson  said ; 
"  but  what  on  earth  did  they  carry  him  off  for  ?" 

Tom  was  silent  a  minute. 

"  That  fiend,  Nunez,  would  have  had  us  stabbed, 
if  he  could  do  nothing  else ;  but  he  would,  if  I 
judge  him  rightly,  be  really  contented  with  nothing 
short  of  putting  us  to  death  himself  in  some  horrible 
manner.  My  own  idea  is  that  Peter  is  hidden 
away  somewhere  near,  will  be  kept  in  concealment 
until  the  road  is  clear,  and  will  then  be  taken  to 
Nunez.  I  must  go  off  and  try  and  save  him  at  all 
hazards." 

Captain  Farquharson  was  silent,  while  Tom 
walked  up  and  down  the  room  thoughtfully. 

"  I  don't  suppose  the  chief  would  refuse  me 
leave,"  Tom  said.  "  If  he  does,  I  must  throw  up 
my  commission." 

"  No,  no ;  you  are  sure  to  get  leave  for  such  a 
thing  as  this,  but  the  difficulty  of  the  affair  will  be 
to  know  how  to  proceed.  The  country  will  swarm 
with  French,  the  guerrillas  are  sure  to  keep  a  sharp 
lookout,  and  if  you  find  him,  how  are  you  going  to 
rescue  him  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  Tom  said,  "  but  it's  got  to  be 
done;  that's  clear.  I  can't  set  out  as  a  Spanish 
peasant,"  he  went  on  after  a  pause.  "  They  know 
me  as  that  now.  At  least,  if  I  do,  I  must  get  up  as 
an  old  man  and  change  my  appearance.  I  might 
go  as  a  woman,  but  I  am  too  tall  in  the  first  place, 
and  then  women  don't  go  wandering  over  the 
country  in  such  times  as  this.  But  there,  I  have 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  341 

time  to  think  it  over  before  morning.  I  suppose 
the  general  will  be  moving  about  five  o'clock;  1 
will  see  him  the  first  thing,  and  tell  him  the  whole 
story.  Good-night." 

And  so  Tom  went  back  to  his  quarters,  and  sat 
thinking  deeply  until  morning,  while  Sam  sat  gloom- 
ily in  his  little  room,  sometimes  with  tears  rolling 
down  his  cheeks,  sometimes  muttering  terrible 
threats  against  the  guerrillas,  at  other  times  cursing 
himself  for  having  been  asleep  instead  of  watching 
over  his  young  master's  safety.  Tom  had  briefly 
told  him  that  he  intended  to  get  leave  in  order 
to  search  for  Peter.  At  daybreak,  when  he  heard 
Tom  moving,  he  went  into  the  sitting-room. 

"  Look  here,  Massa  Tom,  Sam  only  one  word  to 
say.  He  going  to  look  for  Massa  Peter.  Sam 
know  dat  him  color  bery  spicuous,  dat  people  look 
at  him  and  tink  he  de  debil.  Sam  don't  spect  he 
going  wid  you.  Dat  wouldn't  do.  Dese  fellows 
watch  him,  know  dat  black  fellow  here.  Only  Sam 
go  somehow.  He  trabel  night,  hide  up  at  daytime. 
He  join  you  de  last  ting  when  you  go  to  mash  up 
dem  guerrillas  like  squash.  Anyhow,  Sam  must 
go.  If  can  get  leave,  bery  well,  if  not  he  desert. 
Anyhow  he  go,  dat  sartin.  Sam  kill  himself  if  he 
stay  behind." 

Tom  had  already  thought  over  this.  He  was  sure 
that  the  faithful  negro  would  not  remain  behind, 
but  he  had  seen  that  his  companionship  would  be 
fatal.  He  had,  therefore,  formed  some  plan  in  his 
head  similar  to  that  which  Sam  proposed,  and  he 


342  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

knew  that  when  the  moment  for  action  carne  his 
courage,  strength,  and  devotion  would  be  invalu- 
able. 

"You  shall  go,  Sam,"  he  said,  holding  out  his 
hand  to  his  attached  follower.  "  As  you  say,  you 
can't  go  with  me,  but  you  shall  go  somehow." 

"  Thank  you,  Massa  Tom,"  the  negro  said  grate- 
fully. "  You  bery  sure  if  Massa  Peter  die  Sam 
die  too." 

Tom  now  went  to  headquarters,  and  found  that 
Lord  Wellington  was  just  up.  Sending  in  to  say 
that  he  wished  to  speak  with  him  for  a  few  min- 
utes on  a  matter  of  urgent  personal  importance,  he 
was  admitted,  and  related  as  concisely  as  he  could 
Peter's  disappearance,  and  told  the  story  of  the 
affair  with  the  guerrillas,  which  accounted  for  the 
intense  desire  for  vengeance  on  the  part  of  Nunez. 
He  ended  by  asking  for  leave  of  absence. 

The  general  heard  him  to  the  end,  asking  a  brief 
question  here  and  there. 

"  You  can  have  the  leave  certainly,  Captain 
Scudamore.  I  know  that  it  is  needless  for  me  to 
point  out  the  risks  that  you  will  run,  both  from  the 
French  and  guerrillas.  I  think  that  it  might  be  an 
advantage  if  I  give  you  a  note  which  you  can,  in 
case  of  absolute  necessity,  show  to  any  French 
officer." 

So  saying,  the  general  sat  down  and  wrote  as 
follows : 

"  To  THE  FRENCH  OFFICER  COMMANDING  :  The  Earl 
of  Wellington,  comraander-in-chief  of  his  Britannic 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  343 

majesty's  forces  in  Spain,  gives  his  assurance  that 
the  bearer  of  this,  Captain  Scudamore,  although 
not  in  English  uniform,  is  not  engaged  upon  any 
mission  connected  with  the  array,  or  to  obtain  in- 
formation respecting  the  strength  and  position  of 
the  French  forces.  His  business  is  entirely  private, 
and  he  is  engaged  in  an  attempt  to  discover  ci^d 
rescue  a  brother  who  has  been  carried  off  by  the 
guerrilla  chief  Nunez  in  order  to  gratify  private 
vengeance.  The  Earl  of  Wellington,  confiding  in 
the  natural  courtesy  of  the  Fr.ench  nation,  trusts 
that  officers  of  that  service  will,  if  applied  to,  assist 
Captain  Scudamore  in  any  way  in  their  power,  and 
he  will  feel  personally  obliged  to  them  by  their  so 
doing." 

Tom  expressed  his  deep  gratitude  for  this,  which 
might,  he  foresaw,  be  of  inestimable  advantage  to 
him. 

"  I  am  taking  my  servant  with  me,  sir — the 
negro ;  he  will  not  travel  with  me  by  day,  but  will 
join  me  wherever  I  tell  him  ;  he  is  very  strong  and 
brave,  and  is  deeply  attached  to  us." 

"  Yes,  I  remember,"  the  general  said ;  "  that  is 
the  man  whose  life  you  saved.  Do  you  leave  at 
once  ?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  am  thinking  of  riding  with  you  to- 
morrow at  any  rate.  The  route  lies  on  the  way  I 
have  to  go,  and  I  am  sure  to  be  watched  here." 

"  Yery  well,"  the  general  said ;  "  I  wish  you 
good  fortune;  but  you  have  a  difficult,  almost  a 
desperate  service  before  you." 

Upon  leaving  headquarters,  Tom  again  called  on 
Captain  Farquharson. 


344  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Farquharson,  I  hear  that  it  will  be  eleven  before 
the  chief  leaves.  I  wish  you  would  go  to  that  little 
shop  opposite  the  opera  house ;  they  have  got  wigs 
and  all  that  sort  of  thing  there.  Please  get  me 
two  old  men's  wigs  and  beards,  and  one  set  of  those 
mutton  chop  shaped  whiskers,  and  a  woman's  wig. 
I  haven't  made  up  my  mind  yet  what  I  am  going 
to  wear,  but  I  want  these  things  to  choose  from.  I 
am  sure  to  be  Avatched,  and  if  I  were  to  go  there 
they  would  find  out,  five  minutes  afterward,  what  I 
had  bought.  In  the  meantime  I  am  going  to  the 
head  of  the  police  to  give  notice  of  Peter's  disap- 
pearance, and  to  ask  him  to  have  the  carts  leaving 
the  town  for  the  next  few  days  searched.  I  have 
no  doubt  the  fellows  will  outwit  the  police,  but  it's 
no  use  throwing  away  a  chance." 

It  was  six  days  after  this  that  an  old  man,  with 
long  white  hair  and  gray  beard,  and  with  a  box 
containing  cheap  trinkets,  beads,  necklaces,  ear- 
rings, knives,  scissors,  and  other  like  articles,  was 
sitting  at  the  junction  of  two  roads  near  the  lower 
slopes  of  the  Pyrenees,  some  twenty  miles  north  of 
Vittoria.  He  had  one  of  his  sandals  off,  and  ap- 
peared to  have  just  risen  from  a  bed  of  leaves  in 
the  forest  behind  him.  The  dawn  had  broken,  but 
it  was  still  twilight.  Presently  he  heard  a  footstep 
coming  along  the  road,  and  at  once  applied  himself 
to  wrapping  the  bandages,  which  serve  for  stock- 
ings to  the  Spanish  peasant,  round  his  leg,  looking 
eagerly  from  under  his  wide  sombrero  to  see  who 
was  approaching.  As  the  newcomer  came  in  sight 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  345 

the  peddler  at  once  ceased  his  employment  and  rose 
to  meet  him.  He  had  recognized  the  figure,  but 
the  face  was  hidden,  the  Spanish  cloak,  worn  as  is 
usual,  by  peasant  and  noble  alike,  with  one  end 
thrown  over  the  shoulder,  hiding  the  chin  and 
lower  part  of  the  face,  while  the  wide  felt  hat, 
pressed  well  down  in  front,  allowed  scarcely  a 
glimpse  even  of  the  nose.  That,  however,  would 
have  been  sufficient  in  the  present  case,  for  the  man 
was  a  negro. 

Upon  seeing  the  peddler  rise,  he  ran  forward  to 
meet  him.  "  Ah,  Massa  Tom,  tank  de  Lord  me 
find  you  safe  and  sound  !  I  always  keep  on  tinking 
you  taken  prisoner  or  killed  eider  by  de  French  or 
de  robbers — one  as  bad  as  de  oder." 

"  I  have  thought  the  same  of  you,  Sam,  for  your 
risk  has  been  far  greater  than  mine.  Well,  thank 
God  it  is  all  right  thus  far.  But  come  back  into 
the  wood,  I  have  got  some  food  there,  and  here 
any  one  might  come  along." 

They  were  soon  deep  in  the  wood,  where,  by  a 
pile  of  grass  and  leaves  which  had  evidently  been 
used  as  a  bed,  was  an  open  wallet,  with  some  bread, 
cheese,  cold  meat,  and  a  small  skin  of  wine. 

"  Are  you  hungry,  Sam  ?" 

"  Downright  starving,  sar ;  dis  chile  eat  noting 
for  two  days." 

"  Why,  how  is  that,  Sam ;  you  had  six  days'  pro- 
vision with  you  when  you  started  ?" 

"  Dat  true  enough,  sar,  but  Sam's  appetite  bigger 
than  usual,  noting  to  do  all  day  sitting  in  de  woods, 


346  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

waiting  for  night  to  come  so  as  to  go  on  again ;  so 
had  to  eat,  and  de  food  all  went  before  Sam  thought 
dat  dere  was  two  more  days  before  he  meet  you." 

"  "Well,  sit  down  now,  Sam,  and  eat  away ;  we 
have  plenty  of  time." 

They  had  much  to  tell  each  other.  They  had 
traveled  by  the  same  road,  one  by  night,  the  other 
by  day — Sam  passing  the  days  sleeping  in  the 
woods,  his  master  traveling  by  day  and  at  night 
sleeping  in  wretched  village  posadas.  He,  too, 
would  far  rather  have  slept  in  the  woods,  for  the 
insects  and  filth  made  sleep  almost  impossible  in 
these  places,  besides  which  he  ran  a  good  deal  of 
risk  as  to  the  discovery  of  his  disguise.  He  had, 
however,  chosen  the  inns  in  hopes  of  hearing  some- 
thing which  might  give  him  a  clew  as  to  the  object 
of  his  search.  The  only  information  which  he  had 
gained  was  to  the  effect  that  Nunez  still  had  his 
quarters  at  the  old  place.  He  had  been  driven  out 
of  it,  and  the  village  had  been  burned  by  the 
French,  but  the  position  was  a  convenient  one,  and 
the  houses  had  been  cleared  and  roughly  roofed 
with  boughs  of  trees  and  straw,  and  the  band  was 
still  there.  This  much  was  satisfactory,  and  he 
could  hardty  have  expected  to  learn  more,  unless  he 
had  happened  to  meet  some  of  the  members  of  the 
band  itself.  They  had  not  traveled  by  the  main 
road,  as  upon  that  large  forces  of  the  French  were 
collected ;  and  even  if  Tom  could  have  passed 
through  boldly,  Sam  could  not  have  made  his  way. 
Even  by  the  road  they  had  chosen  Tom  had  met 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  347 

several  bodies  of  French,  while  at  Vittoria  a  very 
large  force  was  assembling,  destined  for  the  relief 
of  Burgos. 

Sam  had  but  few  incidents  to  relate.  He  had 
been  carefully  instructed  by  Tom  before  starting  as 
to  the  road  he  should  take,  and  the  position  and  dis- 
tances apart  of  the  towns  and  villages  upon  it.  He 
had  traveled  only  at  night,  and  had  but  once  or 
twice  exchanged  a  word  with  passers-by.  People 
did  not  travel  much  at  night  in 'so  disturbed  a  coun- 
try, and  when  Sam  heard  a  foot-passenger  approach- 
ing, or,  as  was  more  fi-equently  the  case,  a  party  of 
French  cavalry,  he  left  the  road  and  lay  down  until 
they  had  passed.  The  one  or  two  foot-passengers 
he  had  met  suddenly  he  had  passed  with  the  usual 
Spanish  muttered  salutation,  and  the  darkness 
and  the  disguise  prevented  any  recognition  of  his 
color. 

"Now,  sar,"  Sam  said  when  they  had  finished 
breakfast,  "  what  am  to  be  done  next  ?" 

"  I  do  not  think,  Sam,  that  the  party  who  have 
got  Peter  have  arrived  yet.  They  could  only  have 
started  on  the  day  that  we  did ;  they  have  as  long 
a  road  to  go,  and  most  likely  they  have  got  a  bul- 
lock-cart, which  won't  travel  more  than  fifteen  miles 
a  day  at  the  outside.  They  have  got  Peter  in  a 
cart  covered  up  with  something,  we  may  be  sure. 
I  don't  think  they  will  be  here  for  another  day  or 
so  at  the  earliest.  If  we  knew  what  sort  of  a  cart 
it  was,  we  could  attack  them  on  the  way  if  there  are 
not  too  many  of  them  ;  but  unfortunately  we  don't 


348  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

know  that ;  and  as  there  are  three  or  four  roads  up 
to  the  village,  and  they  are  sure  to  make  a  detour, 
we  don't  know  which  they  will  come  by.  I  hope 
to  learn  at  the  village.  We  will  stay  where  we  are 
till  dark,  then  we  will  push  on  ;  it  is  only  a  couple 
of  miles  or  so  from  here.  I  will  steal  into  the  place 
after  dark,  and  try  and  overhear  what  is  going  on. 
You  shall  remain  at  a  point  where  you  can  see  down 
into  the  village  and  can  hear  a  shout.  I  will  give 
you  this  letter  of  Lord  Wellington,  and  if  you  hear 
a  pistol  shot  and  hear  me  shout  '  Sam !'  you  will 
know  I  am  caught,  and  must  make  off  as  hard  as 
you  can  to  that  small  town  in  the  plain,  where  there 
is  a  French  garrison ;  ask  for  the  commanding 
officer,  show  this  letter,  and  offer  to  guide  them  so 
as  to  surprise  Nunez  and  his  band.  That  is  our  sole 
chance.  But  I  don't  think  there  is  much  risk  of 
being  caught.  I  shall  be  very  careful,  you  may 
rely  upon  it ;  and  as  I  know  the  position  of  the 
houses,  I  shall  be  able  to  make  my  way  about. 
Once  night  has  fallen  they  go  off  to  bed  ;  and  even 
if  I  walked  boldly  about  the  place  I  should  likely 
enough  meet  no  one  all  night." 

That  evening  Tom  entered  the  village  as  soon  as 
it  was  fairly  dark.  He  knew  from  his  former  ex- 
perience that  sentries  were  always  placed  at  points 
whence  they  could  get  a  view  of  the  roads,  and  he 
made  his  way  so  as  to  avoid  any  risk  of  observation 
by  them;  but  when  he  reached  a  place  whence  he 
could  in  turn  view  the  posts  of  the  watchers,  he 
found  that  they  were  deserted,  and  concluded  that 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  349 

the  brigands  had  become  careless,  from  the  belief 
that,  now  the  French  had  once  destroyed  the  village, 
they  would  not  be  likely  to  come  up  to  search  for 
them  there  a  second  time  ;  besides  which,  they  might 
reckon  that  the  French  had  their  hands  much  too 
full  with  the  advance  of  the  allied  army  to  spare 
either  men  or  time  in  raids  upon  the  guerrillas.  In 
this  particular,  indeed,  they  would  have  argued 
wrongly,  for  the  French  during  the  whole  war,  how- 
ever much  they  were  pressed  by  Wellington,  always 
kept  sufficient  forces  in  hand  to  scatter  the  guerrillas 
as  fast  as  they  became  formidable. 

Tom  had  now  taken  off  his  beard  and  wig,  and 
had  put  on  the  small  whisker,  which  is  the  general 
fashion  of  wearing  the  hair  throughout  Spain.  Thus 
he  trusted,  if  surprised  in  the  dark,  to  pass  as  one  of 
the  band.  So  quiet  was  the  village  when  he  entered 
that  he  at  first  thought  that  it  was  deserted  ;  at  last, 
however,  he  saw  a  light  in  one  of  the  houses  in  the 
center  of  the  village.  Approaching  carefully  and 
noiselessly  he  saw  a  group  of  five  men  sitting  and 
drinking  round  a  fire  made  on  the  ground,  in  the 
center  of  one  of  the  winclowless  rooms,  the  smoke 
finding  its  way  out  through  the  roof. 

"  I  tell  you,"  one  said,  "  I  am  getting  sick  of  this 
life ;  I  am  ready  to  go  and  kill  the  French,  but  to 
be  left  up  here,  where  there  is  nothing  to  do,  no  one 
to  talk  to,  not  a  roof  to  cover  one — bah  !  I  am  sick 
of  it.  But  Nunez  will  be  back  in  three  days,  and 
we  shall  be  merry  enough  then." 

"Not  we,"  another  said;  "this  was  a  pleasant 


350  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

village  in  the  old  days,  what  is  it  now?  There  are 
no  women,  not  even  old  mother  Morena,  who  used 
to  cook  well,  if  she  was  free  of  her  tongue.  There 
is  not  even  a  priest  now  to  shrive  us  if  one  is  brought 
in  to  die." 

"  Nunez  will  come  back  in  a  good  temper  if  it  is 
true  what  Lope  said  yesterday  when  he  came 
through,  that  the  lads  at  Madrid  have  got  one  of 
those  English  boys  who  made  a  fool  of  him  two 
years  ago.  That  was  a  go.  Demonio  !  but  it  was 
a  fine  thing.  If  it  is  true  that  they  have  got  him 
and  are  bringing  him  here  I  would  not  be  in  his 
skin  for  all  the  treasures  of  King  Joseph.  Yes, 
Nunez  was  always  a  devil,  but  he  is  worse  now. 
Somehow  we  always  have  bad  luck,  and  the  band 
gets  smaller  and  smaller ;  I  don't  suppose  there's 
above  fifty  with  him  now.  I  expect  we  shall  have 
them  pretty  well  all  here  this  week." 

"  No  fear  of  a  visit  from  the  French  ?" 

"  None ;  Keynier  at  Vittoria  is  busy  now  in  send- 
ing every  man  he  can  spare  forward  to  the  army 
that's  gathering  near  Burgos." 

This  was  enough  for  Tom,  who  stole  silently 
away  to  the  spot  where  Sam  was  anxiously  awaiting 
him. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  351 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

JUST   IN   TIME. 

"  I  SHALL  go  straight  back  to  Vittoria,  Sam.  By 
what  they  said,  General  Reynier  is  in  command 
there,  and  as  it  was  through  his  wife  that  all  this 
terrible  business  has  come  about,  we  have  a  right 
to  expect  him  to  do  his  best  to  get  us  out  of  it.  I 
will  start  at  once.  Now  look  here,  Sam.  You 
must  put  yourself  where  you  can  keep  watch  over 
the  village.  If  you  see  any  party  come  in,  either 
to-night  or  to-morrow,  you  must  try  and  discover  if 
Peter  is  among  them.  If  he  is,  light  a  fire  down  in 
that  hollow  where  it  can't  be  seen  from  above,  but 
where  we  can  see  it  on  that  road.  It's  twenty  miles 
to  Yittoria;  if  I  can  get  to  see  General  Reynier  to- 
morrow, I  may  be  back  here  with  cavalry  by  night ; 
if  he  is  out,  or  anything  prevents  it,  I  will  be  here 
next  night,  as  soon  after  dusk  as  it  will  be  safe.  I 
will  dismount  the  men  and  take  them  over  the  hill, 
so  as  to  avoid  the  sentinel  who  is  sure  to  be  posted 
on  the  road  when  Nunez  arrives.  If  they  come  in 
the  afternoon,  Sam,  and  you  find  that  anything  is 
going  to  be  done  at  once,  do  everything  you  can  to 
delay  matters." 


352  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  All  right,  Massa  Tom ;  if  when  you  come  back 
you  find  Massa  Peter  dead,  you  be  bery  sure  you 
find  dis  chile  gone  down,  too." 

It  was  seven  o'clock  next  morning  when  Tom  en- 
tered Yittoria,  and  a  few  cautious  inquiries  proved 
the  fact  that  General  Reynier  was  really  in  com- 
mand of  the  French  division  there.  He  at  once 
sought  his  headquarters,  and  after  some  talk  with  a 
woman  selling  fruit  near  the  house,  heard  that  the 
general  and  his  staff  had  started  at  daybreak,  but 
whither  of  course  she  knew  not.  Tom  hesitated  for 
some  time,  and  then,  seeing  an  officer  standing  at 
the  door,  went  up  to  him  and  asked  if  the  general 
would  be  back  soon. 

"  He  will  be  back  in  an  hour  or  two,"  the  officer 
replied  in  Spanish,  "  but  it  is  no  use  your  waiting  to 
see  him.  He  has  his  hands  full  and  can't  be  both- 
ered with  petitions  as  to  cattle  stolen  or  orchards 
robbed.  Wait  till  we  have  driven  the  English 
back,  and  then  we  shall  have  time  to  talk  to  you." 

"  Your  pardon,"  Tom  said  humbly.  "  It  is  not  a 
complaint  that  I  have  to  make,  it  is  something  of 
real  importance  which  I  have  to  communicate  to 
him," 

"  You  can  tell  me ;  I  am  Colonel  Deschamps ;  it 
will  be  all  the  same  thing  if  your  news  is  really 
important." 

"  Thank  you  very  kindly,  seflor,  it  must  bo  tho 
general  himself;  I  will  wait  here."  Thereupon 
Tom  sat  down  with  his  back  to  the  wall  a  short  dis- 
tance off,  pulled  out  some  bread  and  fruit  he  had 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  353 

bought  in  the  town,  and  began  quietly  to  eat  his 
breakfast.  An  hour  later  a  pretty  carriage  with 
two  fine  horses  drew  up  to  the  door.  It  was 
empty,  and  was  evidently  intended  for  some  one  in 
the  house.  Suddenly  the  thought  flashed  across 
his  mind,  perhaps  Madame  Reynier  and  her  child 
were  there.  It  was  curious  that  the  thought  had 
not  occurred  to  him  before,  but  it  had  not,  and  he 
drew  near,  when  a  sentry  at  the  door  roughly 
ordered  him  to  stand  further,  back.  Presently  a 
lady  came  to  the  door,  accompanied  by  a  little  girl. 
There  she  stood  for  a  minute  talking  with  the 
officer  with  whom  Tom  had  spoken.  At  the  moment 
a  young  officer  passed  Tom  on  his  way  to  the 
house. 

"  Monsieur,"  Tom  said,  in  French,  "  do  me  the 
favor  to  place  that  ring  in  the  hands  of  Madame 
Reynier.  It  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death.  She  will 
recognize  the  ring,  it  is  her  own,"  he  added,  as  the 
young  officer  in  surprise  hesitated.  He  was  a 
bright,  handsome  young  fellow,  and  after  a 
moment's  pause,  he  went  up  to  the  lady.  "  My 
dear  aunt,"  he  said,  "  here  is  a  mystery.  An  old 
Spanish  beggar  speaks  French,  not  very  good 
French,  but  enough  to  make  out,  and  he  begs  me  to 
give  you  this  ring,  which  he  says  is  yours,  and 
which,  by  the  way,  looks  a  valuable  one."  Madame 
Reynier,  in  some  surprise,  held  out  her  hand  for  the 
ring.  "  It  is  not  mine,"  she  began,  when  a  sudden 
thought  struck  her,  and  turning  it  round  she  saw 
"  a  Louise  Reynier,  toujours  reconnaissante,"  which 


354  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

she  had  had  engraved  on  it.  before  giving  it  to  Tern. 
"  Who  gave  it  to  you,  Jules?"  she  asked  eagerly. 

"  That  old  peddler,"  Jules  said. 

"  Bring  him  in,"  Madame  Reynier  said ;  "  the  car- 
riage must  wait ;  I  must  speak  to  him  and  alone." 

"  My  dear  aunt,"  began  her  nephew. 

"  Don't  be  afraid,  Jules,  I  am  not  going  to  run 
away  with  him,  and  if  you  are  a  good  boy  you  shall 
know  all  about  it  afterward  ;  wait  here,  Louise,  with 
your  cousin ;"  and  beckoning  to  Tom  to  follow  her, 
she  went  into  the  house,  the  two  officers  looking 
astounded  at  each  other  as  the  supposed  Spanish 
peddler  followed  her  into  her  sitting-room. 

"  What  is  your  message  ?"  she  asked. 

Tom's  answer  was  to  remove  his  wide  hat,  wig, 
and  beard. 

"Himself!"  Madame  Reynier  exclaimed,  "my 
preserver,"  and  she  held  out  both  her  hands  to  him. 
"  How  glad  I  am,  but  oh  !  how  foolish  to  come  here 
again,  and — and" — she  hesitated  at  the  thought 
that  he,  an  English  spy,  ought  not  to  come  to  her, 
the  wife  of  a  French  general. 

Tom  guessed  her  thought.  "  Even  General  Rey- 
nier might  succor  us  without  betraying  the  interests 
of  his  country.  Read  that,  madam e ;  it  is  an  open 
letter,"  and  he  handed  her  Lord  Wellington's 
letter. 

She  glanced  through  it  and  turned  pale.  "  Your 
brother!  is  he  in  the  hands  of  the  guerrillas? 
Where  ?  How  ?" 

"  He  is  in  the  hands  of  that  scoundrel  Nunez ;  he 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  355 

swore  he  would  be  revenged  for  that  day's  work, 
and  he  has  had  Peter  carried  off.  No  doubt  to  kill 
him  with  torture." 

"Oh!  and  it  is  through  me,"  Madame  Keynier 
exclaimed,  greatly  distressed.  "What  can  we  do? 
Please  let  me  consult  with  my  friends;  every  soldier 
shall  be  at  your  service,"  and  she  opened  the  door. 
"  Colonel  Deschamps,  Jules,  come  here  directly,  and 
bring  Louise  with  you."  These  officers,  on  enter- 
ing, were  struck  dumb  with  astonishment  on  finding 
a  young  peasant  instead  of  an  old  peddler,  and  at 
seeing  tears  standing  in  Madame  Keynier's  eyes. 
"  Louise,"  she  said  to  her  daughter,  "  look  at  this 
gentleman,  who  is  he?" 

The  child  looked  hard  at  Tom ;  he  was  dressed 
nearly  as  when  she  first  saw  him — and  as  he  smiled 
she  recognized  him.  "  Oh,  it  is  the  good  boy  !"  she 
cried,  and  leaped  into  Tom's  arms,  and  kissed  him 
heartily. 

"  Do  you  think  we  have  gone  mad,  Jules,  Louise 
and  I  ?  This  is  one  of  the  young  English  officers 
who  saved  our  lives,  as  you  have  often  heard  me 
tell  you." 

Jules  stepped  forward,  and  shook  Tom's  hand 
heartily,  but  Colonel  Deschamps  looked  very  serious. 
"  But,  madame,"  he  began,  "  you  are  wrong  to  tell 
me  this." 

"  No,  colonel,"  Madame  Keynier  said ;  "  here  is  a 
letter,  of  which  this  gentleman  is  the  bearer,  from 
Lord  Wellington  himself,  vouching  for  him,  and 
asking  for  the  help  of  every  Frenchman," 


356  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Colonel  Descharaps  read  it,  and  his  brow  cleared, 
and  he  held  out  his  hand  to  Tom.  "  Pardon  my 
hesitation,  sir,"  he  said  in  Spanish ;  "  but  I  feared 
that  I  was  placed  in  a  painful  position,  between 
what  I  owe  to  ray  country  and  what  all  French 
soldiers  owe  to  you  for  what  you  did  for  Madame 
Reynier.  I  am,  indeed,  glad  to  find  that  this  letter 
absolves  me  from  the  former  duty,  and  leaves  me 
free  to  do  all  I  can  to  discharge  the  latter  debt. 
Where  is  your  brother,  and  why  has  he  been  carried 
off?  I  have  known  hundreds  of  our  officers  assas- 
sinated by  these  Spanish  wolves,  but  never  one 
carried  away.  An  English  officer,  too,  it  makes  it 
the  more  strange !" 

Tom  now  related  the  story  of  Peter's  abduction, 
the  previous  attempts  of  members  of  Nunez's  band 
to  assassinate  them,  and  the  reasons  he  had  for 
believing  that  Peter  was  close  to,  if  not  already  at, 
the  headquarters  of  that  desperado. 

"Is  he  still  there?"  Jules  asked.  "We  routed 
him  out  directly  the  general  came  up  here.  My 
aunt  declared  herself  bound  by  a  promise,  and  would 
give  us  no  clew  as  to  the  position  of  the  village,  but 
he  had  made  himself  such  a  scourge  that  there  were 
plenty  of  others  ready  to  tell ;  if  we  had  known  the 
roads  we  would  have  killed  the  whole  band,  but  un- 
fortunately they  took  the  alarm  and  made  off.  So 
he  has  gone  back  there  again.  Ah !  there  is  the 
general." 

Madame  Reynier  went  out  to  meet  her  husband. 
and  drawing  him  aside  into  another  room,  explained 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  357 

the  whole  circumstance  to  him,  with  difficulty  de- 
taining him  long  enough  to  tell  her  story,  as  the 
moment  he  found  that  his  wife  and  child's  deliverer 
was  in  the  next  room  he  desired  to  rush  off  to  see 
him.  The  story  over,  he  rushed  impetuously  into 
the  room,  where  Tom  was  explaining  his  plans  to 
his  French  friends,  seized  him  in  his  arms,  and 
kissed  him  on  both  cheeks,  as  if  he  had  been  his  son. 

"  I  have  longed  for  this  day !"  he  said,  wiping  his 
eyes.  "  I  have  prayed  that  I  might  some  day  meet 
you,  to  thank  you  for  my  wife  and  child,  who  would 
have  been  lost  to  me  but  for  you.  And  now  I  hear 
your  gallant  brother  is  paying  with  his  life  for  that 
good  deed.  Tell  me  what  to  do,  and  if  necessary  I 
will  put  the  whole  division  at  your  orders." 

"  I  do  not  think  that  he  will  have  above  fifty  men 
with  him,  general ;  say  eighty  at  the  outside.  Two 
squadrons  of  cavalry  will  be  sufficient.  They  must 
dismount  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  and  I  will  lead 
them  up.  We  must  not  get  within  sight  of  the  hill 
till  it  is  too  dark  for  their  lookouts  to  see  us,  or  the 
alarm  would  be  given  and  we  should  catch  no  one. 
We  shall  know  if  they  have  arrived  by  a  fire  my 
man  is  to  light.  If  they  have  not  come,  then  I 
would  put  sentries  on  guard  upon  every  road  lead- 
ing there,  and  search  every  cart  that  comes  up; 
they  are  sure  to  have  got  him  hid  under  some  hay, 
or  something  of  that  sort,  and  there  are  not  likely 
to  be  more  than  two  or  three  men  actually  with  it, 
so  as  not  to  attract  attention.  It  will  be  all  right 
if  they  do  not  arrive  there  to-day." 


358  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"It  is  about  five  hours'  ride  for  cavalry,"  the 
general  said,  "  that  is,  at  an  easy  pace ;  it  will  not 
be  dark  enough  to  approach  the  hill  without  being 
seen  till  eight  o'clock.  Two  squadrons  shall  be  pa- 
raded here  at  three  o'clock.  I  will  go  with  you  myself; 
yes,  and  you  shall  go  too,  Jules,"  he  said,  in  answer 
to  an  anxious  look  from  his  nephew.  "In  the 
meantime  you  can  lend  our  friend  some  clothes  ;  you 
are  about  the  same  size." 

"  Come  along,"  Jules  said,  laughing ;  "  I  think  we 
can  improve  your  appearance ;"  and,  indeed,  he  did 
so,  for  in  half  an  hour  Tom  returned  looking  all 
over  a  dashing  young  French  hussar,  and  little 
Louise  clapped  her  hands  and  said : 

"  He  does  look  nice,  mamma,  don't  he  ?  Why 
can't  he  stay  with  us  always,  and  dress  like  that  ? 
and  we  know  he's  brave,  and  he  would  help  papa 
and  Jules  to  kill  the  wicked  English." 

There  was  a  hearty  laugh,  and  Jules  was  about  to 
tell  her  that  Tom  was  himself  one  of  the  wicked 
English,  but  Madame  Reynier  shook  her  head,  for, 
as  she  told  him  afterward,  it  was  as  well  not  to  tell 
her,  for  little  mouths  would  talk,  and  there  was  no 
occasion  to  set  every  one  wondering  and  talking 
about  the  visit  of  an  English  officer  to  General 
Reynier.  "  There  is  no  treason  in  it,  Jules,  still 
one  does  not  want  to  be  suspected  of  treason,  even 
by  fools." 

Sam  watched  all  night,  without  hearing  any 
sound  of  vehicles,  but  in  the  morning  he  saw  that 
several  more  guerrillas  had  come  in  during  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  359 

night.  In  the  morning  parties  of  twos  and  threes 
began  to  come  in  from  the  direction  of  Yittoria,  and 
it  was  evident  from  the  shouting  and  noise  in  the 
village  that  these  brought  satisfactory  news  of  some 
kind.  In  the  afternoon  most  of  them  went  out 
again  in  a  body  to  the  wood  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
and  soon  afterward  Sam  saw  a  cart  coming  along 
across  the  plain.  Two  men  walked  beside  it,  and 
Sam  could  see  one,  if  not  two  more  perched  upon 
the  top  of  the  load.  Three  others  walked  along  at 
a  distance  of  some  fifty  yards  ahead,  and  as  many 
more  at  about  the  same  distance  behind,  He  could 
see  others  making  their  way  through  the  fields. 
"  Dis  bery  bad  job,"  Sam  said  to  himself ;  "  me 
bery  much  afraid  dat  Massa  Tom  he  not  get  back  in 
time.  Der's  too  many  for  Sam  to  fight  all  by  him- 
self, but  he  must  do  someting."  Whereupon  Sam 
set  to  think  with  all  his  might,  and  presently  burst 
into  a  broad  grin.  "Sure  enough  dat  do,"  he  said; 
"now  let  me  arrange  all  about  what  dey  call  de 
pamerphernalia."  First,  he  emptied  out  the  con- 
tents of  a  couple  of  dozen  pistol  cartridges,  he 
wetted  the  powder  and  rolled  it  up  in  six  cartridges, 
like  squibs,  three  short  ones  and  three  much  longer. 
Then  he  opened  Tom's  kit,  and  took  out  a  small  box 
of  paints,  which  Tom  had  carried  with  him  for  mak- 
ing dark  lines  on  his  face,  and  in  other  ways  to  as- 
sist his  disguise.  Taking  some  white  paint,  Sam 
painted  his  eyelids  up  to  his  eyebrows,  and  a  circle 
on  his  cheeks,  giving  the  eyes  at  a  short  distance 
the  appearance  of  ghastly  saucers. 


360  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Dat  will  do  for  cle  present,"  he  said  ;  "  now  for 
business.  If  dey  wait  till  it  get  dark,  all  right ;  if 
not,  Sam  do  for  Nunez  and  two  or  three  more,  and 
den  go  down  with  Massa  Peter  !" 

Then  carefully  examining  the  priming  of  the  pair 
of  pistols  which  he  carried — the  very  pistols  given 
to  Peter  by  the  passengers  of  the  Maryborough 
coach — he  prepared  to  set  out. 

It  was  now  six  o'clock,  and  he  calculated  that  the 
wagon  would  by  this  time  have  mounted  the  hill, 
and  reached  the  village ;  he  had  already  collected  a 
large  heap  of  dry  sticks  and  some  logs,  at  the  point 
Tom  had  pointed  out ;  these  he  now  lit,  and  then 
started  for  the  top  of  the  hill.  Looking  back,  just 
as  he  reached  the  crest,  he  could  see,  knowing  where 
it  was,  a  very  light  smoke  curling  up  over  a  clump 
of  trees  which  intervened  between  him  and  the  fire, 
but  it  was  so  slight  that  he  was  convinced  that  it 
would  not  be  noticed  by  an  ordinary  observer.  Sam 
saw  at  once,  on  reaching  the  top  of  the  hill,  that  the 
guerrillas  were  crowded  round  the  wagon,  which 
stood  at  the  edge  of  a  small  clump  of  trees  in  the 
middle  of  the  village.  The  moment  was  favorable, 
and  he  at  once  started  forward,  sometimes  making 
a  detour,  so  as  to  have  the  shelter  of  a  tree,  some- 
times stooping  behind  a  low  stone  wall,  until  he 
reached  the  first  house  in  the  village.  It  was  now 
comparatively  easy  work,  for  there  were  inclosures 
and  walls,  the  patches  of  garden-ground  were  breast- 
high  with  weeds,  and,  stooping  and  crawling,  Sam 
soon  reached  a  house  close  to  the  wagon.  It  was 


TRE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  361 

a  mere  hut,  and  had  not  been  repaired.  The  roof 
was  gone,  but  the  charred  shutters  and  doors  still 
hung  on  their  hinges.  It  was  the  very  place  from 
which  to  see  without  being  seen.  Sam  entered  by  a 
door  from  behind,  and  found  that,  through  a  slight 
opening  in  the  window-shutter,  he  could  see  all  that 
was  going  on.  Some  fifty  guerrillas  were  standing 
or  sitting  in  groups  at  a  distance  of  twenty  yards. 

In  the  center  of  the  groups,  lying  on  the  ground, 
was  a  figure  which  he  at  once  recognized  as  Peter. 
It  was  wound  round  and  round  with  ropes ;  beside 
it  stood,  or  rather  danced,  Nunez,  pouring  forth 
strings  of  abuse,  of  threats,  and  of  curses,  and  en- 
forcing them  with  repeated  kicks  at  the  motionless 
figure. 

"  I)e  debil,"  muttered  Sam,  "  me  neber  able  to 
stand  dis.  If  you  not  stop  dat,  Massa  Nunez,  me 
put  a  bullet  through  dat  ugly  head  of  yours,  as  sure 
as  you  stand  dere.  But  me  mustn't  do  it  till  last 
ting,  for,  whether  I  kill  him  or  not,  it's  all  up  with 
Massa  Peter  and  me  if  I  once  fire." 

Fortunately  Nunez  was  tired,  and  in  a  short  time 
he  desisted,  and  threw  himself  down  on  the  ground. 
"  Take  off  his  ropes,  one  of  you,"  he  said ;  "  there 
would  be  no  fear  of  his  running  away  had  he  three 
or  four  days  to  live  instead  of  as  many  hours.  Take 
the  gag  out  of  his  mouth,  throw  some  water  over 
him  to  bring  him  round,  and  pour  some  wine  down 
his  throat.  I  want  him  to  be  fresh  so  as  to  be  able 
to  enjoy  the  pleasure  we  have  in  store  for  him.  And 
now  let's  have  dinner." 


362  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Sam  felt  that  for  another  hour  at  least  Peter  was 
safe,  and  therefore,  with  the  same  precaution  as 
before,  he  crept  away  from  his  hiding-place,  through 
the  village  and  over  the  hill-crest,  to  the  place 
where  he  had  made  his  fire.  The  logs  were  burn- 
ing well,  but  gave  out  but  little  smoke.  Sam 
looked  at  the  sky.  "  Dusk  come  on  bery  fast,"  he 
said;  "another  hour  Massa  Tom  come  on  with 
soldiers.  If  he  see  fire,  he  hurry  up  sharp."  So 
saying,  Sam  heaped  on  a  pile  of  wood,  and  then 
made  his  way  back.  He  knew  that  Tom  would  not 
approach  until  it  was  too  dark  for  the  move- 
ments of  the  troops  to  be  seen  by  the  lookouts,  and 
that  he  could  not  be  expected  to  reach  the  village 
until  fully  an  hour  after  dark.  "  Just  another  hour 
and  a  half,"  he  said  to  himself ;  "  eberything  de- 
pend upon  what  happen  before  dat  time."  It  was 
quite  dusk  before  he  regained  the  shelter  of  the 
cottage.  He  had  gone  round  by  the  wagon,  and 
had  taken  from  it  a  large  stable-fork,  muttering  as 
he  did  so,  "  Golly  !  dis  de  bery  ting."  Close  by  he 
saw  the  carcass  of  a  bullock  which  the  guerrillas  had 
just  slaughtered,  and  from  this  he  cut  off  the  horns 
and  tail. 

When  Sam  peeped  out  through  the  shutter  he 
saw  that  something  was  going  to  be  done.  Nunez 
was  sitting  smoking  a  cigarette,  with  a  look  of  sav- 
age pleasure  in  his  face,  while  the  men  heaped  up  a 
large  fire  in  front  of  the  trees. 

"  I  don't  like  dat  gentleman's  look,"  Sam  said  to 
himself.  "  It's  time  dis  chile  begin  to  dress  for  de 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  363 

pantomime,  dat  quite  plain.  Massa  Tom  get  here 
too  late."  Thus  saying,  Sam  began  to  deliberately 
undress. 

Peter,  his  arms  and  feet  still  bound,  was  sitting 
with  his  back  against  a  tree,  watching  what  were, 
he  was  convinced,  the  preparations  for  his  death. 
For  the  last  ten  days  he  had  lived  in  a  sort  of  con- 
fused and  painful  dream.  From  the  moment  when 
upon  entering  his  room  two  hands  suddenly  gripped 
his  throat,  others  thrust  a  gag  in  the  mouth,  and 
then  blindfolded  him,  while  some  one  from  behind 
lashed  his  arms  to  his  side,  and  then  altogether, 
lifting  him  like  a  log,  carried  him  downstairs  and 
threw  him  into  a  cart,  he  had  not  till  now  seen 
anything.  The  bandage  had  never  been  removed 
from  his  eyes,  or  the  cords  from  his  limbs.  Some- 
times he  had  been  made  to  sit  up,  and  soup  and 
wine  had  been  poured  down  his  throat,  or  a  piece 
of  bread  thrust  into  his  mouth  ;  then  he  had  been 
again  gagged  and  thrown  into  a  cart.  Over  him 
brushwood  and  fagots  had  been  piled,  and  there  he 
had  lain,  until  at  night  a  stop  was  made,  when  he 
was  taken  out,  fed,  and  then  thrust  back  again  and 
covered  over. 

From  the  first  he  had  never  doubted  who  were 
his  captors,  or  what  was  his  destination,  and  he 
therefore  experienced  no  surprise  whatever,  when, 
on  his  arrival  at  the  village,  on  the  bandage  being 
taken  off  his  eyes,  he  saw  where  he  was.  That  it 
was  useless  to  beg  for  mercy  of  the  savages  into 
whose  power  he  had  fallen  he  knew  well  enough, 


364  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

and  he  looked  as  calm  and  indifferent  as  if  he  did 
not  hear  a  word  of  the  threats  and  imprecations 
which  Nunez  was  heaping  on  him. 

"  You  see  that  fire,"  the  enraged  guerrilla  said, 
"  there  you  shall  be  roasted  !  English  pig  that  you 
are !  But  not  yet.  That  were  too  quick  a  death  ! 
Here,"  he  said  to  his  followers,  "  make  a  little  fire 
by  the  side  of  the  big  one — there,  under  the  arm  of 
that  tree ;  and  put  on  plenty  of  green  leaves  :  we 
will  smoke  our  pig  a  bit  before  we  roast  him !" 

Peter  still  eyed  him  unflinchingly.  He  was 
determined  that  no  pain  should  wring  a  complaint 
or  prayer  for  mercy.  Even  now  he  did  not  quite 
despair,  for  he  thought  that  he  had  just  one  chance 
of  life.  He  was  sure  that  Tom  would  move  heaven 
and  earth  to  save  him.  He  reckoned  that  he  would 
at  once  guess  who  had  carried  him  off,  and  with  what 
object ;  and  he  felt  that  Tom  would  be  certain  to 
set  off  to  his  rescue.  All  this  he  had  reflected  over 
in  his  long  days  of  weary  suffering,  and  from  the 
moment  that  he  was  unbandaged  and  propped 
against  the  tree  he  had  listened  attentively  for  any 
unusual  sound.  How  Tom  could  rescue  him  he  did 
not  see.  He  was  so  utterly  crippled  from  his  long 
confinement  that  he  knew  that  it  would  be  hours, 
perhaps  days,  before  he  could  walk  a  step ;  yet  still 
he  thought  it  possible  that  Tom  might  try ;  and  he 
feared  more  than  he  hoped,  for  he  trembled  lest,  if 
Tom  were  really  there,  that  he  would  do  some  rash 
thing,  which  would  involve  him  in  his  fate. 
"  Whether  Tom  is  here  or  not,"  Peter  thought  as  he 


THE  YOUNG   BUGLERS.  365 

looked  unflinchingl}7-  at  Nunez,  "  one  thing  is  cer- 
tain, if  I  know  my  brother,  you  will  not  have  many 
days  to  live  after  me,  for  Tom  will  follow  you  all 
over  Spain,  but  he  will  avenge  me  at  last !"  Such 
were  Peter's  thoughts,  and  so  likely  did  he  think  it 
that  Tom  was  present  that  he  Avas  scarcely  sur- 
prised when  he  heard,  as  from  the  ground  behind 
him,  a  well-known  voice. 

"  Massa  Peter,  you  keep  up  your  heart.  Sam 
here,  Massa  Tom  he  be  here  in  another  half-hour 
with  French  soldiers.  If  dey  go  to  kill  you  before 
dat,  Sam  play  dem  trick.  Can  you  run,  Massa 
Peter,  if  I  cut  de  cord  ?" 

"  No,  Sam." 

"  Dat  bad  job.  Neber  mind,  Massa  Peter,  you  keep 
up  your  heart.  Sam  keep  quiet  as  long  as  he  can, 
but  when  de  worst  come  Sam  do  de  trick  all  right." 

"  Don't  show  yourself,  Sam.  It  would  only  cost 
you  your  life,  and  couldn't  help  me ;  besides,  it 
will  put  them  on  their  guard.  They  won't  kill  me 
yet.  They  will  smoke  me,  and  so  on,  but  they  will 
make  it  last  as  long  as  they  can." 

Peter  was  able  to  say  this,  for  at  the  moment 
Nunez  was  occupied  in  rolling  and  lighting  a  second 
cigarette.  Peter  received  no  answer,  for  Sam,  see- 
ing some  guerrillas  bringing  sticks  and  leaves  to 
make  a  fire,  as  Nunez  had  ordered,  crept  back  again 
into  the  deep  shadow  behind.  The  fire  was  now 
giving  out  volumes  of  smoke,  a  guerrilla  climbed  up 
the  tree  and  slung  a  rope  over  it,  and  three  others 
approached  Peter.  His  heart  beat  rapidly ;  but  it 


366  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

was  with  hope,  not  fear.  He  knew,  from  the  words 
of  Nunez,  that  at  present  he  was  not  going  to  be 
burned,  but,  as  he  guessed,  to  be  hung  over  the 
smoke  until  he  was  insensible,  and  then  brought  to 
life  again  with  buckets  of  water,  only  to  have  the 
suffocation  repeated,  until  it  pleased  Nunez  to  try 
some  fresh  mode  of  torture. 

It  was  as  he  imagined.  The  rope  was  attached  to 
his  legs,  and  amid  the  cheers  of  the  guerrillas  two 
men  hauled  upon  the  other  end  until  Peter  swung, 
head  downward,  over  the  fire.  There  was  no  flame, 
but  dense  volumes  of  pungent  smoke  rose  in  his 
face.  For  a  moment  his  eyes  smarted  with  agony, 
then  a  choking  sensation  seized  him,  his  blood 
seemed  to  rush  into  his  head,  and  his  veins  to  be 
bursting  :  then  there  was  a  confused  din  in  his  ears 
and  a  last  throb  of  pain,  and  then  he  was  insen- 
sible. 

"  That's  enough  for  the  present,"  Nunez  said ; 
"  cut  him  down." 

The  men  advanced  to  do  so,  but  paused  with  aston- 
ishment, for  from  behind  the  great  fire  was  a  loud 
yell — "  Yah,  yah,  yah  !" — each  louder  than  the  last, 
and  then  leaping  through  the  flames  appeared  as  they 
supposed,  the  devil.  Sam's  appearance  was  indeed 
amply  sufficient  to  strike  horror  in  the  minds  of  a 
band  of  intensely  superstitious  men.  He  had  en- 
tirely stripped  himself,  with  the  exception  of  his 
sandals,  which  he  had  retained  in  order  to  be  able 
to  run  freely ;  on  his  head  were  two  great  horns ; 
in  one  hand  he  held  a  fork,  and  in  the  other 


TWO  MEN  HAULED  UPON  THE  OTHER  END  OF  THE  ROPE,  UNTIL 

PETEK  SWUNG  HEAP  DOWNWARD. — Page  366. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  367 

what  appeared  to  be  his  tail,  but  which  really 
belonged  to  the  slaughtered  bullock.  From  his 
mouth,  his  horns,  and  the  end  of  his  tail  poured 
volumes  of  fire,  arising,  it  needs  not  to  say,  from 
the  squibs  he  had  prepared.  The  great  white 
circles  round  the  eyes  added  to  the  ghastliness  of  his 
appearance,  and  seeing  the  terrible  figure  leap 
apparently  from  the  flames,  it  is  no  wonder  that  a 
scream  of  terror  rose  from  the  guerrillas.  What- 
ever a  Spanish  peasant  may  believe  about  saints 
and  angels,  he  believes  yet  more  implicitly  in  a 
devil.  Black,  with  horns,  and  a  tail — and  here  he 
was — with  these  appendages  tipped  with  fire  !  Those 
who  were  able  turned  and  fled  in  terror,  those  who 
were  too  frightened  to  run  fell  on  their  knees  and 
screamed  for  mercy,  while  one  or  two  fell  insensible 
from  fear.  Taking  the  squibs  from  his  mouth,  and 
giving  one  more  startling  yell,  to  quicken  the  fugi- 
tives, Sam  made  two  strides  to  where  Peter  was 
hanging,  cut  the  rope,  and  lowered  him  down. 

Nunez  had  at  first  joined  in  the  flight,  but  look- 
ing over  his  shoulder  he  saw  what  Sam  was  doing. 
His  rage  and  frenzy  at  the  thought  of  being  cheated 
of  his  victim,  even  by  the  evil  one  himself,  overcame 
his  fear,  and  he  rushed  back,  shouting,  "He  is 
mine !  He  is  mine !  I  won't  give  him  to  you  !"  and 
fired  a  pistol  almost  in  Sam's  face.  The  ball  car- 
ried away  a  portion  of  one  of  Sam's  ears,  and  with  a 
yell  even  more  thrilling  than  those  he  had  given 
before,  he  plunged  his  pitchfork  into  the  body  of  the  ' 
guerrilla,  then,  exerting  all  his  immense  strength,  he 


368  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

lifted  him  upon  it,  as  if  he  had  been  a  truss  of 
straw,  took  three  steps  to  the  great  bonfire  and  cast 
the  brigand  into  it. 

There  was  a  volume  of  sparks,  a  tumbling  to- 
gether of  big  logs,  and  the  most  cruel  of  the 
Spanish  guerrillas  had  ceased  to  exist. 

This  awful  sight  completed  the  discomfiture  of 
the  guerrillas — some  hearing  their  chief's  shouts 
and  the  sound  of  his  pistol  had  looked  round,  but 
the  sight  of  the  gigantic  fiend  casting  him  into  the 
fire  was  too  much  for  them.  With  cries  of  horror 
and  fear  they  continued  their  flight ;  a  few  of  them 
who  had  fallen  on  their  knees  gained  strength 
enough  from  fear  to  rise  and  fly ;  the  rest  lay  on 
their  faces.  Sam  saw  that  for  the  present  all  was 
clear,  and  lifting  up  Peter's  still  insensible  body  as 
if  it  had  no  weight  whatever,  he  turned  and  went 
at  a  brisk  trot  out  of  the  village,  then  over  the 
crest  and  down  toward  the  fire. 

Then  he  heard  a  ring  of  metal  in  front  of  him, 
and  a  voice  said,  "Qui  vivef"  while  another  voice 
said,  "  Is  that  you,  Sam  ?" 

"Bress  de  Lord!  Massa  Tom,  dis  is  me  sure 
enough ;  and  what  is  much  better,  here  is  Massa 
Peter." 

"  Thank  God  !"  Tom  said  fervently.  "  Is  he  hurt  ? 
Why  don't  you  speak,  Peter  ?" 

"  He  all  right,  Massa  Tom.  He  talk  in  a 
minute  or  two.  Now  smoke  choke  him,  he 
better  presently.  Here,  massa,  you  take  him  down 
to  fire,  pour  a  little  brandy  down  his  throat.  Now, 
massa  officer,  1  lead  de  way  back  to  village." 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  369 

As  Tom  took  Peter  in  his  arms  a  sudden  fire  of 
musketry  was  heard  down  on  the  road. 

"  Our  fellows  have  got  them,"  Jules  said.  "  I 
don't  know  what  has  alarmed  them,  but  they  are 
running  away !" 

"Push  forward,"  General  Keynier  said,  "and 
give  no  quarter !  Jules,  keep  by  the  negro,  and  see 
that  he  comes  to  no  harm.  The  men  might  mistake 
him  for  a  guerrilla." 

The  night  was  pitch  dark,  and  the  extraordinary 
appearance  of  Sam  could  not  be  perceived  until, 
after  scouring  the  village  and  shooting  the  few 
wretches  whom  they  found  there,  they  gathered 
round  the  fire.  Before  reaching  it,  however,  Sam 
had  slipped  away  for  a  moment  into  the  hut  where 
he  had  stripped ;  here  he  quickly  dressed  himself, 
removed  the  paint  from  his  face,  and  rejoined  the 
group,  who  were  not  a  little  surprised  at  seeing  his 
black  face. 

In  a  short  time  the  parties  who  had  been  posted 
on  all  the  various  roads  came  in,  and  it  was  found 
that  they  had  between  them  killed  some  thirty  or 
forty  of  the  brigands,  and  had  brought  in  two  or 
three  prisoners. 

"Have  you  killed  or  taken  Nunez?"  General 
Eeynier  asked.  "  Our  work  is  only  half  done  if 
that  scoundrel  has  escaped." 

"  I  have  asked  the  prisoners,"  one  of  the  officers 
said,  "  and  they  tell  an  extraordinary  story,  that  the 
devil  has  just  thrown  him  into  the  fire !" 

"  What  do  they  mean  by  such  folly  as  that?"  the 


370  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

general  asked  angrily.  "  "Were  they  making  fun  of 
you  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  they  were  certainly  serious  enough  over 
it,  and  they  were  all  running  for  their  lives  when 
they  fell  into  our  hands ;  they  had  been  horribly 
frightened  at  something." 

"  Ask  that  fellow  there,"  the  general  said,  point- 
ing to  a  prisoner  who  had  been  brought  in  by 
another  detachment,  "  he  cannot  have  spoken  to  the 
others." 

The  man  was  brought  forward,  and  then  Jules 
asked  him  in  Spanish :  "  What  were  you  all  running 
away  for?" 

The  man  gave  a  glance  of  horror  at  the  fire. 
"  The  devil  came  with  his  pitchfork,  fire  came  out 
of  his  mouth,  his  tail  and  his  horns  were  tipped 
with  sparks,  the  captain  fired  at  him,  of  course  the 
bullet  did  no  good,  and  the  devil  put  his  fork  into 
him,  carried  him  to  the  fire,  and  threw  him  in." 

Jules  and  some  of  the  other  young  officers  burst 
out  laughing,  but  the  general  said  : 

"  Humph !  "We  can  easily  prove  a  portion  of  the 
story.  See  if  there  are  any  human  remains  in  that 
fire." 

The  wind  was  blowing  the  other  way,  but  as  a 
sergeant  went  up  to  the  fire  in  obedience  to  the 
general's  order,  he  said  : 

"  There  is  a  great  smell  of  burned  flesh  here,  and, 
sacristi,  yes,"  as  he  tossed  over  the  logs  with  his 
foot ;  "  there  is  a  body  here,  sir,  pretty  well  burned 
up." 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  371 

"  It's  a  curious  story,"  the  general  said.  "  Where 
is  that  negro?  Perhaps  he  can  enlighten  us." 

But  Sam  had  already  left  to  look  after  Peter. 

"  Jules,  put  these  fellows  against  that  wall  and 
give  them  a  volley ;  then  march  the  men  down  to 
the  wood  where  their  horses  are.  We  will  bivouac 
here  for  the  night." 

A  party  now  brought  up  Peter,  who  had  quite 
come  round,  but  was  unable  to  .stand,  or  indeed  to 
move  his  arms,  so  injured  was  he  by  the  ropes, 
which  had  completely  cut  their  way  into  his  flesh. 
However,  he  was  cheerful  and  bright,  and  able 
really  to  enjoy  the  suppor  which  was  soon  prepared. 
That  done,  General  Reynier  said  : 

"Captain  Scudamore,  will  you  call  your  black 
man  when  he  has  finished  his  supper,  which,  no 
doubt,  he  needs  ?  I  want  him  to  tell  me  what  took 
place  before  we  arrived.  The  prisoners  were  full 
of  some  cock-and-bull  story,  that  the  devil  had  stuck 
his  fork  into  their  captain  and  pitched  him  into  the 
fire,  and  the  story  is  corroborated,  at  least  to  the 
extent  of  the  fact  that  on  turning  the  fire  over  we 
found  a  body  there." 

Sam,  called  and  questioned,  told  the  whole  story, 
which  Tom  translated  as  he  went  on  to  the  French 
officers,  and  it  was  received  with  a  chorus  of  laugh- 
ter at  the  thought  of  the  oddity  of  Sam's  appear- 
ance, and  of  the  brigands'  terror,  and  with  warm 
admiration  for  the  able  stratagem  and  courage  shown 
by  the  black. 

Tom  was  delighted,  and  Peter,  who  had  until 


372  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

now  been  entirely  ignorant  of  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  been  saved,  feebly  pressed  Sara's  hand  and 
said  a  few  words  of  gratitude  and  thanks,  which  so 
delighted  Sara  that  he  retired  to  cry  quietly. 

The  next  day  they  moved  down  to  Vittoria,  where 
Peter  was  tenderly  nursed  by  Madame  Keynier.  A 
week  later  he  was  fit  to  sit  on  horseback,  and  the 
next  day,  after  a  hearty  and  affectionate  parting, 
they  started  to  rejoin  their  own  army.  Both  were 
now  dressed  as  Spanish  gentlemen,  and  Jules,  with 
four  troopers,  accompanied  them  as  an  escort. 

They  made  a  long  detour  to  avoid  the  French 
army  in  the  field  under  Clausel,  and  at  last  came 
within  sight  of  the  British  outposts.  Here  Jules 
and  his  escort  halted,  and  after  a  warm  embrace 
with  the  merry  young  Frenchman  they  rode  for- 
ward, and,  after  the  usual  parleying  with  the 
pickets,  were  passed  forward  to  the  officer  com- 
manding the  post.  He  happened  to  be  well  known 
to  them,  and  after  the  first  surprise,  and  a  few 
words  of  explanation,  they  rode  on  toward  the 
headquarters  of  the  army  besieging  Burgos. 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  373 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

VICTORIA. 

GENERAL  CLAUSEL  fell  back  as  Wellington  ad- 
vanced to  Burgos,  and  the  British  laid  siege  to  the 
castle  of  that  place.  Like  all  "Wellington's  sieges 
this  was  commenced  with  a  wholly  insufficient  train 
of  artillery,  and  without  the  time  necessary  to  carry 
out  regular  siege  operations.  A  considerable  portion 
of  the  army  were  posted  so  as  to  watch  Clausel.  The 
place  was  badly  fortified,  but  the  French  under  Gov- 
ernor Dubreton  defended  themselves  with  immense 
skill  and  courage,  the  English  assaults  were  repulsed, 
successful  sorties  were  made  by  the  garrison,  and  at 
last,  after  the  failure  of  the  fourth  assault,  the  siege 
was  given  up,  and  the  allied  armies  turned  their 
faces  once  more  toward  Portugal. 

It  was  time ;  the  operations  in  the  south  upon 
which  Wellington  had  relied  to  keep  at  least  a  por- 
tion of  the  French  forces  engaged  had  failed 
signally,  and  the  French  generals  were  bringing  up 
their  troops  from  all  parts  of  Spain,  and  General 
Souham,  having  under  him  Generals  Clausel,  Mau- 
cune,  and  Foy,  with  a  force  far  superior  to  that  of 
the  British,  advanced  to  give  battle.  Then  We} 


374  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

lington,  whose  Anglo-Portuguese  troops  were  much 
weakened  by  sickness,  fell  back  rapidly,  sending 
orders  to  General  Hill,  who  commanded  the  troops 
left  behind  in  Madrid,  to  evacuate  that  city,  and 
to  fall  back  and  unite  with  him  on  the  Tormes. 

It  was  only  by  some  masterly  maneuvering  and 
some  stiff  fighting  at  Yenta  de  Pozo,  on  the  Carrion, 
and  on  the  Huebra,  that  Wellington  drew  off  his 
army  to  Ciudad  Rodrigo. 

During  the  retreat  the  British  suffered  very 
severely,  and  the  discipline  of  the  array  became 
greatly  impaired,  so  much  so  that  Lord  Wellington 
issued  a  general  order  rebuking  the  army,  saying 
that  "  discipline  had  deteriorated  during  the  cam- 
paign in  a  greater  degree  than  he  had  ever  wit- 
nessed or  read  of  in  any  army,  and  this  without 
any  unusual  privation  or  hardship,  or  any  long 
marches." 

The  number  of  stragglers  may  be  imagined  by 
the  fact  that  the  loss  of  the  allied  army  was  upward 
of  nine  thousand,  of  whom  not  more  than  two  thou- 
sand were  killed  and  wounded  at  Burgos  and  in  the 
combats  during  the  retreat.  This  number  includes 
the  Spanish  as  well  as  the  Anglo-Portuguese  loss. 

It  was  the  beginning  of  December  when  the 
allied  army  reached  their  winter  quarters  around 
Ciudad  Rodrigo.  It  was  fortunate  that  the  season 
of  the  year,  and  the  necessity  which  the  French  had 
to  refill  their  magazines  and  collect  food,  gave 
breathing  time  and  rest  to  the  British.  Although 
strengthened  by  his  junction  with  Hill,  and  by  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  375 

arrival  of  reinforcements  from  the  coast,  Welling- 
ton was  not  in  a  position  to  have  made  a  stand 
against  such  a  force  as  the  French  could  have 
brought  against  him. 

Tom  and  Peter  Scudamore  had  rejoined  the  army 
at  the  hottest  part  of  the  siege  of  Burgos,  and  had 
taken  up  their  work  at  once.  Lord  Wellington 
heard  from  Tom  a  brief  account  of  what  had  taken 
place,  and  said  a  feAV  kind  words  expressive  of  his 
pleasure  at  their  both  having  escaped  from  so  great 
a  peril,  and,  grave  and  preoccupied  as  he  was  with 
the  position  of  his  army,  he  yet  laughed  at  the 
account  of  the  scare  Sam  had  given  the  guerrillas. 
Among  their  friends  nothing  was  talked  of  for  a 
day  or  two  but  their  adventure.  The  times  were 
stirring,  however,  and  one  event  rapidly  drove  out 
another.  Sam  became  a  greater  favorite  than  ever 
among  the  officers  of  the  staff,  while  the  orderlies 
were  never  tired  of  hearing  how  he  pretty  nearly 
frightened  a  band  of  guerrillas  to  death  by  pretend- 
ing to  be  the  evil  one  in  person. 

The  next  four  months  were  passed  in  preparations 
for  the  grand  attack  with  which  Wellington  confi- 
dently hoped  to  drive  the  French  out  of  Spain. 
The  news  of  the  defeat  of  Napoleon  in  Russia  had 
cheered  the  hearts  of  the  enemies  of  France,  and 
excited  them  to  make  a  great  effort  to  strike  a  deci- 
sive blow.  The  French  army  was  weakened  by  the 
withdrawal  of  several  corps  to  strengthen  the  armies 
which  Napoleon  was  raising  for  his  campaign  in 
Germany,  and  British  gold  had  been  so  freely  spent 


376  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

that  the  Portuguese  army  was  now  in  a  really  effi- 
cient state ;  a  portion  of  the  Spanish  army  had  been 
handed  over  to  Wellington,  and  were  now  in  a  far 
more  trustworthy  condition  than  they  had  been 
heretofore,  while  the  whole  of  the  north  of  Spain 
was  in  a  state  of  insurrection,  which  the  French,  in 
spite  of  all  their  efforts,  were  unable  to  repress. 

The  invasion  was  delayed  until  the  end  of  May, 
in  order  that  the  crops  might  be  in  a  fit  state  for 
the  subsistence  of  the  cavalry  and  baggage  animals ; 
but  in  the  last  week  in  that  month  all  was  ready, 
and,  in  several  columns,  the  allied  army  poured  into 
Spain  nearly  a  hundred  thousand  strong.  The 
French,  ignorant  alike  of  Wellington's  intentions 
and  preparations,  were  in  no  position  to  stem  effec- 
tually this  mighty  wave  of  war,  and  were  driven 
headlong  before  it,  with  many  fierce  skirmishes, 
until  their  scattered  forces  were,  for  the  most  part, 
united  on  the  Ebro. 

Here  Joseph  occupied  a  strong  position,  which  he 
thought  to  hold  until  the  whole  of  his  troops  could 
come  up;  but  Wellington  made  a  detour,  swept 
round  his  right,  and  the  French  fell  back  in  haste, 
and  took  up  their  position  in  the  basin  of  Vittoria, 
where  all  the  stores  and  baggage  which  had  been 
carried  off  as  the  army  retreated  from  Madrid,  Yal- 
ladolid,  Burgos,  and  other  towns,  were  collected. 
At  Vittoria  were  gathered  the  court,  and  an  enor- 
mous mass  of  fugitives,  as  all  the  Spaniards  who 
had  adhered  to  the  cause  of  Joseph  bad,  with  their 
wives  and  families,  accompanied  the  French  in  their 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  '377 

retreat.  Hence  the  accumulation  of  baggage  ani- 
mals and  carts,  of  stores  of  all  descriptions,  of 
magazines,  of  food  and  artillery,  of  helpless,  fright- 
ened people,  was  enormous,  and  for  the  retreat  of 
the  army  in  case  of  defeat  there  was  but  one  good 
road,  already  incumbered  with  baggage  and  fugi- 
tives ! 

This  terrible  accumulation  arose  partly  from  the 
fault  of  Joseph,  who  was  wholly  unequal  to  the 
supreme  command  in  an  emergency  like  the  present. 
Confused  and  bewildered  by  the  urgency  of  the 
danger,  he  had  hesitated,  wavered,  and  lost  pre- 
cious time.  By  resistance  at  any  of  the  rivers, 
which  Wellington  had  passed  unopposed,  he  might 
easily  have  gained  a  few  days,  and  thus  have  allowed 
time  for  the  great  mass  of  fugitives  to  reach  the 
French  frontier,  and  for  Foy  and  Clausel,  each  of 
whom  were  within  a  day's  march  upon  the  day  of 
the  battle,  to  have  arrived  with  a  reinforcement  of 
twenty  thousand  good  fighting  men.  Instead  of 
this  he  had  suffered  himself  to  be  outflanked  day 
after  day,  and  his  army  forced  into  retreat  without 
an  effort  at  resistance — a  course  of  action  irritating 
and  disheartening  to  all  troops,  but  especially  to 
the  French,  who,  admirable  in  attack,  are  easily 
dispirited,  and  are  ill-suited  to  defensive  warfare. 

The  position  which  he  had  now  chosen  for  the 
battle,  on  which  his  kingdom  was  to  be  staked,  was 
badly  selected  for  the  action.  The  front  was,  in- 
deed, covered  by  the  river  Zadora,  but  this  was 
crossed  by  seven  available  bridges,  none  of  which 


378  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

had  been  broken  down,  while  there  was  but  the  one 
good  line  of  retreat,  and  this,  besides  being  already 
incumbered  with  baggage-wagons,  could  be  easily 
turned  by  the  allies.  The  French  army,  weakened 
by  five  thousand  men,  who  had  marched  upon  the 
preceding  days  in  charge  of  convoys  for  France, 
were  still  about  seventy  thousand  strong,  the  allies 
— British,  Portuguese,  and  Spanish — about  eighty 
thousand.  The  French  were  the  strongest  in 
artillery. 

Wellington,  seeing  that  Joseph  had  determined 
to  stand  at  bay,  made  his  arrangements  for  the 
battle.  On  the  left  Graham,  with  twenty  thousand 
men,  was  to  attempt  to  cross  the  Zadora  at  Gamara 
Mayor,  when  he  would  find  himself  on  the  main 
road,  behind  Vittoria,  and  so  cut  the  French  line  of 
retreat.  Hill,  with  a  like  force,  was  to  attack  on 
the  right,  through  the  defile  of  Puebla,  and  so, 
entering  the  basin  of  Vittoria,  to  threaten  the 
French  right,  and  obtain  possession  of  the  bridge 
of  Nanclares.  In  the  center  Wellington  himself, 
with  thirty  thousand  troops,  would  force  the  four 
bridges  in  front  of  the  French  center,  and  attack 
their  main  position. 

At  daybreak  on  June  21,  1813,  the  weather 
being  rainy  with  some  mist,  the  troops  moved 
from  their  quarters  on  the  Bayas,  passed  in 
columns  over  the  bridges  in  front,  and  slowly  ap- 
proached the  Zadora.  About  ten  o'clock  Hill 
seized  the  village  of  Puebla,  and  commenced  the 
passage  of  the  defile,  while  one  of  the  Portuguese 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  379 

battalions  scaled  the  heights  above.  Here  the 
French  met  them,  and  a  fierce  fight  ensued ;  the 
French  were  reinforced  on  their  side,  while  the 
Seventy-first  Kegiment  and  a  battalion  of  light  in- 
fantry joined  the  Portuguese. 

Yillatte's  division  was  sent  from  the  French 
center  to  join  the  fray,  while  Hill  sent  up  reinforce- 
ments. While  the  fight  on  the  heights  still  raged, 
the  troops  in  the  defile  made  their  way  through, 
and,  driving  the  French  back,  won  the  village  of 
Subijano  de  Alava,  in  front  of  the  French  main 
position. 

Meanwhile,  far  to  the  left,  Graham  came  into 
action  with  Reille's  division  at  Gamara  Mayor. 
The  French  here,  knowing  the  vital  importance  of 
the  position,  fought  desperatel}7,  and  the  village  of 
Gamara  was  taken  and  retaken  several  times,  but 
no  effort  upon  the  part  of  the  allies  sufficed  to  carry 
either  the  bridge  at  this  place  or  that  by  which  the 
main  road  crossed  the  river  higher  up.  A  force, 
however,  was  pushed  still  further  to  the  left,  and 
there  took  up  a  position  on  the  road  at  Durana, 
drove  back  a  Franco-Spanish  force  which  occupied 
it,  and  thus  effectively  cut  the  main  line  of  retreat 
to  France  for  Joseph's  army.  The  main  force  under 
Wellington  himself  was  later  in  coming  into  action, 
the  various  columns  being  delayed  by  the  difficulties 
of  making  their  way  through  the  defiles. 

While  waiting,  however,  for  the  third  and 
seventh  divisions,  which  were  the  last  to  arrive,  a 
peasant  informed  Wellington  that  the  bridge  of 


380  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Tres  Puentes  was  unbroken  and  unguarded. 
Kempt's  brigade  of  the  light  division  were  im- 
mediately ordered  to  cross,  and,  being  concealed  by 
the  inequalities  of  the  ground,  they  reached  it  and 
passed  over  unobserved,  taking  their  place  under 
shelter  of  a  crest  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of 
the  French  main  line  of  battle,  and  actually  in  rear 
of  his  advanced  posts. 

Some  French  cavalry  now  advanced,  but  no  at- 
tack was  made  upon  this  isolated  body  of  British 
troops,  for  the  French  were  virtually  without  a 
commander. 

Joseph,  finding  his  flank  menaced  by  the  move- 
ments of  Graham  and  Hill,  now  ordered  the  army 
to  fall  back  to  a  crest  two  miles  in  the  rear,  but 
at  this  moment  the  third  and  seventh  divisions 
advanced  at  a  run  toward  the  bridge  of  Mendoza, 
the  French  artillery  opened  upon  them,  the  British 
guns  replied,  a  heavy  musketry  fire  broke  out  on 
both  sides,  and  the  battle  commenced  in  earnest. 
Now  the  advantage  gained  by  the  passage  of 
Kempt's  brigade  became  manifest,  for  the  riflemen 
of  his  division  advanced  and  took  the  French 
advanced  cavalry  and  artillery  in  flank.  These, 
thus  unexpectedly  attacked,  fell  back  hastily,  and  a 
brigade  of  the  third  division  took  advantage  of  the 
moment  and  crossed  the  bridge  of  Mendoza.  The 
other  brigade  forded  the  river  a  little  higher  up, 
the  seventh  division  and  Vandeleur's  brigade  of  the 
light  division  followed,  Hill  pushed  the  enemv 
further  back,  and  the  fourth  division  crossed  by 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  3S1 

the  bridge  of  ISTanclares ;  other  troops  forded  the 
river,  and  the  battle  became  general  all  along  the 
line. 

Seeing  that  the  hill  in  front  of  Arinez  -was  nearly 
denuded  of  troops  by  the  withdrawal  of  Villatte's 
division  earlier  in  the  day  to  oppose  Hill,  Wellington 
launched  Picton  with  the  third  division  and  Kempt's 
brigade  against  it,  and  the  French,  thus  attacked 
with  great  strength  and  fury,  and  dispirited  by  the 
order  to  retreat,  began  to  fall  'back.  Fifty  pieces 
of  artillery  and  a  cloud  of  skirmishers  covered  the 
movement,  and  the  British  guns  answering,  the 
whole  basin  became  filled  with  a  heavy  smoke, 
under  cover  of  which  the  French  retired  to  the 
heights  in  front  of  Gomecha,  upon  which  their 
reserves  were  posted,  Picton  and  Kempt  carried 
the  village  of  Arinez  with  the  bayonet,  Vandeleur 
captured  the  village  of  Margarita,  and  the  Eighty- 
seventh  Regiment  won  that  of  Hermandad. 

This  advance  turned  the  flank  of  the  French 
troops  near  Subijana  de  Alava,  and  of  those  on  the 
Puebla  mountain,  and  both  fell  back  in  disorder  for 
two  miles,  until  they  made  a  junction  with  the 
main  body  of  their  army.  Still  the  British  troops 
pressed  forward,  the  French  again  fell  back,  and 
for  six  miles  a  running  fight  of  musketry  and 
artillery  was  kept  up,  the  ground  being  very  broken, 
and  preventing  the  concerted  action  of  large  bodies 
of  troops.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the 
French  stood  at  bay  on  the  last  heights  before  Vit- 
toria,  upon  which  stood  the  villages  of  Ali  and 


382  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Armentia.  Behind  them  was  the  plain  upon  which 
the  city  stood,  and  beyond  the  city  thousands  of 
carriages,  animals,  and  non-combatants,  women  and 
children,  were  crowded  together  in  the  extremity 
of  terror  as  the  British  shots  rang  menacingly  over 

O   */ 

their  heads. 

The  French  here  defended  themselves  desperately, 
and  for  awhile  the  allied  advance  was  checked  by 
the  terrible  fire  of  shot  and  shell.  Then  the  fourth 
division  with  a  rush  carried  a  hill  on  the  left,  and 
the  French  again  commenced  their  retreat.  Joseph, 
finding  the  great  road  absolutely  blocked  up,  gave 
orders  for  a  retreat  by  the  road  to  Salvatierra,  and 
the  army,  leaving  the  town  of  Vittoria  on  its  left, 
moved  off  in  a  compact  mass  toward  the  indicated 
road.  This,  however,  like  the  other  ,  was  choked 
with  carriages.  It  led  through  a  swamp,  and  had 
deep  ditches  on  each  side ;  the  artillery,  therefore, 
had  to  cut  their  traces  and  leave  their  guns  behind 
them,  the  infantry  and  cavalry  thrust  aside  the 
incumbrances  and  continued  their  march.  Reille, 
who  had  defended  the  upper  bridges  nobly  until  the 
last  moment,  now  came  up,  and  his  division,  acting 
as  a  rearguard,  covered  the  retreat,  and  the  French 
retired  with  little  further  loss, 

The}r  had  lost  the  battle  solely  and  entirely  from 
the  utter  incapacity  of  their  general,  for  their  loss 
had  been  but  little  greater  than  that  of  the  allies, 
and  they  fell  back  in  perfect  order  and  full  of  fight- 
ing. The  French  loss,  including  prisoners,  was  not 
more  than  six  thousand,  and  that  of  the  allies  ex- 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  383 

ceeded  five  thousand.  The  French  loss,  however,  in 
material  was  enormous.  They  carried  off  two  guns 
only,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-three  guns  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  British.  They  lost  all  their 
parks  of  ammunition,  all  their  baggage,  all  their 
stores,  all  their  treasure,  all  their  booty.  Last  of 
all,  they  lost  Spain. 

The  British  pursued  the  French  army  for  some 
days,  and  then  invested  the  two,  fortresses  of  San 
Sebastian  and  Pampeluna. 

Ten  days  after  the  battle  of  Yittoria  Napoleon 
dispatched  Soult,  one  of  the  best  of  his  generals,  to 
displace  Joseph  and  assume  the  supreme  command 
of  the  French  troops.  Traveling  with  great  speed, 
he  reached  the  frontier  upon  the  llth  of  July,  and 
took  command.  He  soon  collected  together  the 
divisions  which  had  retired  beaten  but  not  routed 
from  Yittoria,  drew  together  the  troops  from 
Bayonne  and  the  surrounding  towns,  and  in  a  few 
days  found  himself  at  the  head  of  an  army,  includ- 
ing the  garrisons,  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
thousand  men.  Besides  these  there  were  the  armies 
of  Aragon  and  Catalonia,  numbering  sixty  thousand 
men. 

After  spending  a  few  days  in  organizing  the 
army,  Soult  moved  forward  to  relieve  Pampeluna, 
and  then  in  the  heart  of  the  Pyrenees  were  fought 
those  desperate  combats  at  Maya,  Roncevalles, 
Buenza,  Sauroren,  and  Dofla  Maria,  which  are 
known  in  history  as  the  battles  of  the  Pyrenees. 
In  these  terrible  nine  days'  fighting  there  were  ten 


384  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

serious  combats,  in  which  the  allies  lost  seventy- 
three  hundred  men,  the  French,  including  prisoners 
over  fifteen  thousand,  and  Soult  fell  back  baffled 
and  beaten  across  the  frontier. 

Throughout  this  account  of  the  short  and  sanguin- 
ary campaign  by  which  in  two  short  months 
Wellington  shattered  the  power  of  the  French  and 
drove  them  headlong  from  the  Peninsula,  but  little 
has  been  said  respecting  the  doings  of  the  Scuda- 
mores.  Their  duties  had  been  heavy,  but  devoid 
of  any  personal  achievements  or  events.  Welling- 
ton, the  incarnation  of  activity  himself,  spared  no 
one  around  him,  and  from  early  dawn  until  late  at 
night  they  were  on  horseback,  carrying  orders  and 
bringing  back  reports.  At  night  their  quarters 
were  sometimes  in  a  village  hut,  sometimes  in  a 
straggling  chateau,  which  afforded  accommodation 
to  the  commander-in-chief  and  his  whole  staff. 

Sam,  a  good  horseman  now,  was  in  the  highest 
of  spirits  at  being  able  to  accompany  his  masters, 
and,  although  the  Spanish  women  crossed  them- 
selves in  horror  when  they  first  saw  his  black  face, 
the  boys  would  hear  shouts  of  laughter  arising  be- 
fore they  had  been  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  fresh 
quarters.  He  was  a  capital  cook,  and  a  wonderful 
hand  at  hunting  up  provisions. 

There  might  not  be  a  sign  of  a  feathered  creature 
in  a  village  when  the  staff  came  in,  but  in  half  an 
hour  Sam  would  be  sure  to  return  from  foraging 
with  a  couple  of  fowls  and  his  handkerchief  full  of 
eggs.  These  were,  of  course,  paid  for,  as  the  orders 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  385 

against  pillaging  were  of  the  strictest  character, 
and  the  army  paid,  and  paid  handsomely,  for  every- 
thing it  ate. 

It  was,  however,  difficult  to  persuade  the  peas- 
ants that  payment  was  intended,  and  they  would 
hide  everything  away  with  vigilant  care  at  the  ap- 
proach of  the  troops.  When  by  the  display  of 
money  they  were  really  persuaded  that  payment 
was  intended,  they  would  produqe  ail  that  they  had 
willingly  enough,  but  the  number  of  officers  want- 
ing to  purchase  was  so  great  and  the  amount  of 
live  stock  so  small  in  the  war-ravaged  country,  that 
few  indeed  could  obtain  even  for  money  anything 
beside  the  tough  rations  of  freshly-killed  beef 
issued  by  the  commissariat. 

Let  the  supply  be  ever  so  short,  however,  Sam 
never  returned  empty-handed,  and  the  fowls  were 
quickly  plucked  and  on  the  fire  before  any  one  else 
had  succeeded  in  discovering  that  there  was  a  bird 
in  the  village. 

Sam's  foraging  powers  passed  into  a  joke  with 
the  staff,  and  the  Scudamores  became  so  curious  to 
discover  the  reason  of  his  success  that  after  re- 
peated questioning  they  persuaded  him  to  tell  them. 

"  Well,  massa,  de  matter  bery  simple — just  easy 
as  fallin'  off  log.  Sam  go  along,  look  into  yard  ob 
de  cottages,  presently  see  feather  here,  feather 
there.  Dat  sign  ob  fowl.  Den  knock  at  door. 
Woman  open  always,  gib  little  squeak  when  she  see 
dis  gentleman's  colored  face.  Den  she  say,  '  What 
you  want  ?  Dis  house  full.  Quartermaster  take 


386  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

him  up  for  three,  four  officer.'  Den  Sam  say,  'Illus- 
trious madam,  me  want  to  buy  two  fowls  and  eggs 
for  master,'  and  Sam  show  money  in  hand.  Den 
she  hesitate  a  little,  and  not  believe  Sam  mean  to 
pay.  Den  she  say,  '  No  fowls  here.'  Den  Sam 
point  to  de  feathers.  Den  she  get  in  rage  and  tell 
lie  and  say,  '  Dem  birds  all  stole  yesterday.'  Den 
Sam  see  it  time  to  talk  to  de  birds — he  know  dem 
shut  up  somewhere  in  de  dark,  and  Sam  he  begin  to 
crow  bery  loud ;  Sam  bery  good  at  dat.  He  crow 
for  all  de  world  like  de  cock.  Dis  wake  dem  up, 
and  a  minute  one,  two,  three,  half  a  dozen  cock 
begin  to  answer  eider  from  a  loft  ober  house,  or 
from  shed,  or  from  somewhere.  Den  de  woman  in 
terrible  fright,  she  say,  '  Me  sell  you  two  quick,  if 
you  will  go  away  and  swear  you  tell  no  one.'  Den 
Sam  swear.  Den  she  run  away,  come  back  wid  de 
fowls  and  some  eggs,  and  always  bery  much  as- 
tonished when  Sam  pay  for  dem.  After  dat  she 
lose  her  fear,  she  see  me  pay,  and  she  sell  de 
chickens  to  oders  when  dey  come  till  all  gone.  Dat 
how  dis  chile  manage  de  affairs,  Massa  Tom." 

The  Scudamores  had  a  hearty  laugh,  and  were 
well  pleased  to  find  that  Sam's  method  was  one  to 
which  not  even  the  strictest  disciplinarian  could 
object,  a  matter  concerning  which  they  had  pre- 
viously had  grave  doubts. 

While  the  battles  of  the  Pyrenees  were  being 
fought,  the  siege  of  St.  Sebastian  had  continued, 
and  once  again  the  British  troops  had  suffered  a 
terrible  loss,  from  the  attempt  to  carry  a  fortress 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  387 

with  an  insufficient  siege-train,  and  without  the 
time  necessary  to  drive  the  trenches  forward  in 
regular  form.  St.  Sebastian  stood  upon  a  peninsula. 
In  front  of  the  neck  of  this  peninsula  was  the  hill 
of  San  Bartholomeo,  on  which  stood  the  convent  of 
that  name.  At  the  narrowest  part  of  the  neck 
stood  a  redoubt,  which  was  called  the  Cask  Eedoubt, 
because  it  was  constructed  of  casks  filled  with  sand. 
Behind  this  came  the  hornwork  and  other  fortifica- 
tions. Then  came  the  town,  while  at  the  end  of  the 
peninsula  rose  a  steep  rock,  called  Mount  Orgullo, 
on  which  stood  the  citadel.  Upon  its  left  side  this 
neck  of  land  was  separated  from  the  mainland  by 
the  river  Urumea ;  and  upon  the  heights  of  Mount 
Olia  and  the  Chofres,  across  the  Urumea,  were 
placed  the  British  batteries,  which  breached  the 
fortifications  facing  the  river. 

General  Graham  commanded  the  allied  forces 
which  were  detached  to  undertake  the  siege,  and  on 
the  10th  of  July  batteries  were  commenced  against 
the  convent  of  San  Bartholomeo,  which  had  been  for- 
tified by  the  French.  On  the  17th  the  convent  was 
in  ruins,  and  an  assault  was  made  upon  the  position. 
The  Ninth  Eegiment  took  the  place  in  gallant 
style,  but  an  attempt  being  made  to  carry  the  Cask 
Redoubt  with  a  rush,  the  assault  was  repulsed,  the 
British  remaining  possessors  of  San  Bartholomeo. 

On  the  24th  the  batteries  on  Mount  Olia,  having 
effected  what  was  believed  to  be  a  practicable 
breach,  two  thousand  men  of  the  fifth  division,  con- 
sisting of  the  third  battalion  of  the  Royals,  the 


388  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Thirty-eighth,  and  the  Ninth,  made  an  assault  at 
night.  To  arrive  at  the  breach  they  had  to  make 
their  way  along  the  slippery  rocks  on  the  bed  of  the 
Urumea,  exposed  to  a  flank-fire  from  the  river-wall 
of  the  town.  The  breaches  had  been  isolated  from 
the  town,  and  guns  placed  to  take  the  stormers  in 
flank.  The  confusion  and  slaughter  were  terrible, 
and  at  daybreak  the  survivors  fell  back,  with  a  loss 
of  forty-nine  officers  and  five  hundred  and  twenty 
men. 

The  whole  arrangement  of  the  siege  was  bad. 
The  plan  of  Major  Smith,  of  the  Engineers,  a  most 
excellent  officer,  which  had  been  approved  by  Wel- 
lington, was  not  followed,  and  the  assault,  contrary 
to  Wellington's  explicit  order,  took  place  at  night, 
instead  of  by  day,  the  consequence  being  confusion, 
delay,  and  defeat.  The  total  loss  to  the  allies  of 
this  first  siege  of  St.  Sebastian  was  thirteen  hundred 
men. 

Neither  of  the  Scudamores  were  present  at  the 
first  siege,  but  both  witnessed  the  second  assault,  of 
the  31st  of  August,  as  Wellington  himself  was 
present  on  the  30th,  to  see  to  the  execution  of  the 
preparation  for  attack,  and  they  obtained  leave  to 
remain  for  the  next  day  to  witness  the  assault.  The 
siege  had  been  resumed  on  the  5th  of  that  month, 
and  on  the  23d  the  batteries  had  opened  fire  in 
earnest,  and  immense  damage  was  done  to  the  de- 
fenses and  garrison.  But  upon  this  occasion,  as 
upon  the  former  one,  the  proper  precautions  were 
not  taken ;  no  lodgment  had  been  effected  in  the 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  389 

horn  work,  and,  worst  of  all,  the  blockade  had  been 
so  negligently  conducted  by  the  fleet  that  large 
bodies  of  fresh  troops,  guns,  and  ammunition  had 
been  passed  in,  and  the  defense  was  even  stronger 
than  it  had  been  when  the  first  assault  was  de- 
livered. 

General  Graham  took  up  his  position  on  the 
heights  of  the  Chofres  to  view  the  assault,  and  the 
Scudamores  stationed  themselves  near  him.  A 
dense  mist  hid  the  fortress  from'  view,  and  it  was 
not  until  eight  o'clock  that  the  batteries  were  able 
to  open.  Then  for  three  hours  they  poured  a  storm 
of  shot  and  shell  upon  the  defenses.  The  Scuda- 
mores sat  down  in  one  of  the  trenches,  where  they 
were  a  little  sheltered  from  the  blazing  heat  of  the 
sun,  and  Sam  took  his  place  at  a  short  distance  from 
them. 

As  the  clock  struck  eleven  the  fire  slackened,  and 
at  that  moment  Sam  exclaimed, "  Golly,  Massa  Tom, 
dere  dey  go."  As  he  spoke  Robinson's  brigade 
poured  out  from  the  trenches,  and,  passing  through 
the  openings  in  the  sea-wall,  began  to  form  on  the 
beach. 

It  was  known  that  the  French  had  mined  the 
angle  of  the  wall  overhanging  the  beach,  and  a  ser- 
geant, followed  by  twelve  men,  dashed  gallantly 
forward  to  try  to  cut  the  train  leading  to  the  mine. 
He  was  unsuccessful,  but  the  suddenness  of  the  rush 
startled  the  French,  who  at  once  fired  the  mine, 
which  exploded,  destroying  the  brave  sergeant  and 
his  party,  and  thirty  of  the  leading  men  of  the 


390  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

column,  but  not  doing  a  tithe  of  the  damage  which 
it  would  have  inflicted  had  the  column  been  fairly 
under  it. 

"  Hurrah !  dere  dey  go,"  Sam  exclaimed  as  the 
column  clambered  over  the  ruins  and  pursued  its 
way  unchecked  along  the  beach.  They  had,  how- 
ever, to  make  their  way  under  a  storm  of  fire. 

The  French,  as  before,  lined  the  wall,  and  poured 
a  tremendous  musketry  fire  into  their  flank,  and  the 
batteries  of  Mount  Orgullo  and  St.  Elmo  plied  them 
with  shot  and  shell,  while  two  pieces  of  cannon  on 
the  cavalier  and  one  on  the  hornwork  raked  them 
with  grape. 

Still  the  column  neither  halted  nor  faltered,  but 
dashed  like  a  wave  up  the  breach.  When,  however, 
they  reached  the  top  they  could  go  no  further.  A 
deep  gulf  separated  them  from  the  town,  while 
from  every  loophole  and  wall  behind  the  French 
musketry  swept  the  breach.  The  troops  could  not 
advance  and  would  not  retreat,  but  sullenly  stood 
their  ground,  heaping  the  breach  with  their  dead. 
Fresh  bodies  of  men  came  up,  and  each  time  a  crowd 
of  brave  men  mounted  the  breach,  only  to  sink 
down  beneath  the  storm  of  fire. 

"  This  is  awful,  horrible,  Tom !"  Peter  said  in  a 
choked  voice.  "  Come  away ;  I  can't  look  at  this 
slaughter ;  it  is  a  thousand  times  worse  than  any 
battle." 

Tom  made  no  reply ;  his  own  eyes  were  dim  with 
tears,  and  he  rose  to  go,  taking  one  more  look  at 
the  deadly  breach,  at  whose  foot  the  survivors  of 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  391 

the  last  attempt  had  sunk  down,  and  whence  the 
mass  of  soldiers  were  keeping  up  a  musketry  fire 
against  the  guns  and  unseen  foes  who  were  sweeping 
them  away,  when  an  officer  ran  up  from  General 
Graham's  side,  and  in  a  minute  fifty  guns  from  the 
Chofres  batteries  opened  a  storm  of  fire  upon  the 
curtain  and  the  traverses  behind  the  breach. 

It  was  a  terrible  trial  to  the  nerves  of  the  assault- 
ing columns  when  this  terrific  fire  .was  poured  upon 
a  spot  only  twenty  feet  above  them ;  but  they 
were  not  men  to  shrink,  and  the  men  of  the  light 
division  seized  the  opportunity  to  pull  up  the  broken 
masonry  and  make  a  breastwork,  known  in  military 
term  as  a  lodgment. 

For  half  an  hour  the  iron  storm  poured  overhead 
unchecked,  smashing  the  traverse,  knocking  down 
the  loopholed  walls,  and  killing  numbers  of  the 
defenders.  Then  it  ceased,  and  the  troops  leaped 
to  their  feet  and  again  rushed  up  the  breach,  while 
the  Thirteenth  Portuguese  Regiment,  followed  by  a 
detachment  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  waded  across  the 
Urumea  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  castle,  and 
attacked  the  third  breach. 

But  still  no  entry  could  be  effected.  The  French 
fire  was  as  heavy  as  ever,  and  the  stormers  again 
sank  baffled  to  the  foot  of  the  great  breach.  The 
assault  seemed  hopeless,  the  tide  was  rising,  the 
reserves  were  all  engaged,  and  the  men  had  done  all 
that  the  most  desperate  courage  could  do.  For  five 
hours  the  battle  had  raged,  when,  just  as  all  appeared 
lost,  one  of  those  circumstances  occurred  which  upset 
all  calculations  and  decide  the  fate  of  battles 


392  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

Behind  the  traverses  the  French  had  accumulated 
a  great  store  of  powder  barrels,  shells,  and  other 
combustibles.  Just  at  this  moment  these  caught 
fire.  A  bright  flame  wrapped  the  whole  wall,  fol- 
lowed by  a  succession  of  loud  explosions  ;  hundreds 
of  French  grenadiers  were  destroyed,  and  before  the 
smoke  had  cleared  away  the  British  burst  like  a 
flood  through  the  first  traverse. 

Although  bewildered  by  this  sudden  disaster,  the 
French  rallied  and  fought  desperately ;  but  the 
British,  desperate  with  the  long  agony  of  the  last 
five  hours,  would  not  be  denied ;  the  light  division 
penetrated  on  the  left,  the  Portuguese  on  the  right. 
The  French,  still  resisting  obstinately,  were  driven 
through  the  town  to  the  line  of  defense  at  the  foot 
of  Mount  Orgullo,  and  the  town  of  St.  Sebastian 
was  won. 

"  Will  you  go  across,  Peter,  and  enter  the  town  ?" 

"  No,  no,  Tom ;  the  sight  of  that  horrible  breach 
is  enough  for  me.  Let  us  mount  and  ride  off  at 
once.  I  am  quite  sick  after  this  awful  suspense." 

It  was  as  well  that  the  Scudamores  did  not  enter 
the  town,  as,  had  they  done  so,  they  might  have 
shared  the  fate  of  several  other  officers,  who  were 
shot  down  while  trying  to  stop  the  troops  in  their 
wild  excesses.  No  more  disgraceful  atrocities  were 
ever  committed  by  the  most  barbarous  nations  of 
antiquity  than  those  which  disgraced  the  British 
name  at  the  storming  of  St.  Sebastian.  Shameful, 
monstrous  as  had  been  the  conduct  of  the  troops  at 
the  storming  of  Ciudad  Rodrigo  and  at  Badajos,  it 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  393 

was  infinitely  worse  at  St.  Sebastian.  As  Eapin 
says,  hell  seemed  to  have  broken  loose. 

The  castle  held  out  until  the  9th,  when  it  surren- 
dered and  the  governor  and  his  heroic  garrison 
marched  out  with  the  honors  of  war.  The  British 
loss  in  the  second  siege  exceeded  twenty-five  hundred 
men  and  officers. 

There  was  a  pause  of  two  months  after  the  fall 
of  St.  Sebastian,  and  it  was  not  until  the  10th  of 
November  that  Wellington  hurled-his  forces  against 
the  lines  which,  in  imitation  of  those  of  Torres  Ve- 
dras,  Soult  had  formed  and  fortified  on  the  river 
Nivelle  to  withstand  the  invasion  of  France.  After 
a  few  hours'  desperate  fighting  the  French  were 
turned  out  of  their  position  with  a  loss  of  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  of  four  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty- five  men  and  officers,  the  loss  of  the 
allies  being  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety 
four. 

Now  the  army  of  invasion  poured  into  France. 
The  French  people,  disheartened  by  Napoleon's 
misfortunes  in  Germany,  and  by  the  long  and 
mighty  sacrifices  which  they  had  for  years  been 
compelled  to  make  in  order  to  enable  Napoleon  to 
carry  out  his  gigantic  wars,  showed  but  slight  hos- 
tility to  the  invaders. 

Wellington  enforced  the  severest  discipline,  paid 
for  everything  required  for  the  troops,  hanging 
marauders  without  mercy,  and  finding  that  it  was 
impossible  to  keep  the  Spanish  troops  in  order,  he 
sent  the  whole  Spanish  contingent,  twenty  thousand 
strong,  back  across  the  Pyrenees. 


394  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

He  then  with  the  Anglo-Portuguese  army  moved 
on  toward  Bayonne,  and  took  up  a  position  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  Nive,  driving  the  French  from 
their  position  on  the  right  bank  on  December  9. 
On  the  13th,  however,  Soult  attacked  that  portion 
of  the  army  on  the  right  of  the  river,  and  one  of  the 
most  desperate  conflicts  of  the  war  took  place, 
known  as  the  battle  of  St.  Pierre.  General  Hill 
commanded  at  this  battle,  and  with  fourteen  thou- 
sand Anglo-Portuguese,  with  fourteen  guns,  re- 
pulsed the  furious  and  repeated  attacks  of  sixteen 
thousand  French,  with  twenty-two  guns. 

In  five  days'  fighting  on  the  river  the  French  lost 
more  than  as  many  thousand  men. 

The  weather  now  for  a  time  interrupted  opera- 
tions, but  Wellington  was  preparing  for  the  passage 
of  the  Adour.  Soult  guarded  the  passages  of  the 
river  above  Bayonne,  and  never  dreamed  that  an 
attempt  would  be  made  to  bridge  so  wide  and  rough 
a  river  as  is  the  Adour  below  the  town.  With  the 
assistance  of  the  sailors  of  the  fleet  the  great  enter- 
prise was  accomplished  on  the  13th  of  February, 
and  leaving  General  Hope  to  contain  the  force  in 
the  intrenched  camp  at  Bayonne,  Wellington 
marched  the  rest  of  the  army  to  the  Gave. 

Behind  this  river  Soult  had  massed  his  army. 
The  British  crossed  by  pontoon  bridges,  and  before 
the  operation  was  concluded,  and  the  troops  united, 
Soult  fell  upon  them  near  Orthes. 

At  first  the  French  had  the  best  of  the  fight, 
driving  back  both  wings  of  the  allied  forces,  but 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  395 

Wellington  threw  the  third  and  sixth  divisions  upon 
the  left  flank  of  the  attacking  column  and  sent  the 
Fifty-second  Regiment  to  make  a  detour  through  a 
marsh  and  fall  upon  their  other  flank.  Taken  sud- 
denly between  two  fires  the  French  wavered,  the 
British  pressed  forward  again,  and  the  French  fell 
back  fighting  obstinately,  and  in  good  order.  The 
allies  lost  twenty-three  hundred  men,  and  the  French 
four  thousand.  Soult  fell  back  toward  Toulouse, 
laying  Bordeaux  open  to  the  British. 


396  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

TOULOUSE. 

PROMOTION  for  those  who  have  the  good  fortune 
to  have  a  post  upon  the  commander-in-chief's  staff 
is  rapid.  They  run  far  less  risk  than  do  the  regi- 
mental officers,  and  they  have  a  tenfold  better 
chance  of  having  their  names  mentioned  in  dis- 
patches. The  Scudamores  were  so  mentioned  for 
their  conduct  at  Vittoria,  the  Pyrenees,  and  Orthes, 
and  shortly  after  the  last-named  battle  the  Gazette 
from  England  announced  their  promotion  to  major- 
ities. This  put  an  end  to  their  service  as  aids-de- 
camp, and  they  were  attached  to  the  quartermaster's 
branch  of  the  staff  of  Lord  Beresford,  who  was  upon 
the  point  of  starting  with  a  small  force  to  Bordeaux, 
where  the  authorities,  thinking  more  of  party  than 
of  patriotism,  had  invited  the  English  to  enter  and 
take  possession,  intending  to  proclaim  their  adhe- 
sion to  the  Bourbon  dynasty. 

The  boys  were  sorry  at  the  exchange,  as  ti:ey 
feared  that  they  should  lose  the  crowning  battle  of 
the  campaign.  It  was  evident  that  the  resistance 
of  France  was  nearly  at  an  end ;  the  allies  were  ap- 
proaching Paris  in  spite  of  the  almost  superhuman 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  397 

efforts  of  Napoleon;  the  people,  sick  of  the  war, 
refused  all  assistance  to  the  military  authorities, 
and  were  longing  for  peace,  and  the  end  of  the 
struggle  was  rapidly  approaching. 

Lord  Beresford,  however,  divining  their  thoughts, 
assured  them  that  his  stay  at  Bordeaux  would  be 
but  short,  and  that  they  might  rely  upon  being 
present  at  the  great  battle  which  would  probably  be 
fought  somewhere  near  Toulouse,  toward  which 
town  Soult  had  retreated  after  the  battle  of  Orthes. 

Upon  the  8th  of  March  Beresford  marched  with 
twelve  thousand  men  for  Bordeaux,  and  meeting 
with  no  opposition  by  the  way,  entered  that  city  on 
the  12th.  The  mayor,  a  royalist,  came  out  to  meet 
them,  and  by  the  upper  classes  of  the  town  they 
were  received  as  friends  rather  than  foes.  Hand- 
some quarters  were  assigned  to  Lord  Beresford  and 
his  staff,  and  the  Scudamores  for  a  day  or  two  en- 
joyed the  luxury  of  comfortable  apartments  and  of 
good  food  after  their  hard  fare  for  nine  months. 

The  day  after  they  entered  Bordeaux  Tom  had 
occasion  to  call  at  the  office  of  a  banker  in  order  to 
get  a  government  draft  cashed,  to  pay  for  a  number 
of  wagons  which  had  been  purchased  for  the  quarter- 
master's department.  The  banker's  name  was 
Weale,  an  American,  said  to  be  the  richest  man  in 
Bordeaux.  His  fortune  had  been  made,  it  was  said, 
by  large  government  contracts. 

When  Tom  returned  Peter  was  surprised  to  see 
him  looking  pale  and  excited. 

"What  is  the  matter,  Tom?" 


398  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  Do  you  know,  Peter,  I  am  convinced  that  that 
American  banker  I  have  been  to  see  to-day  is  neither 
more  nor  less  than  that  scoundrel,  Walsh,  who  bolted 
with  all  the  bank  funds,  and  was  the  cause  of  our 
father's  death." 

"  You  don't  say  so,  Tom." 

"  It  is  a  fact,  Peter,  I  could  swear  to  him." 

"  What  shall  we  do,  Tom  ?" 

"  I  only  cashed  one  of  the  two  drafts  I  had  with 
me  this  morning ;  Peter,  you  go  this  afternoon  with 
the  other,  and  if  you  are  as  certain  as  I  feel  about 
it,  we  will  speak  to  Beresford  at  dinner." 

Peter  returned  in  the  afternoon  satisfied  that  his 
brother's  surmises  were  correct,  and  that  in  the  sup- 
posed American  Weale  they  had  really  discovered 
the  English  swindler  Walsh. 

After  dinner  they  asked  Lord  Beresford  to  speak 
to  them  for  a  few  minutes  alone. 

The  general  was  greatly  surprised  and  interested 
at  tlieir  communication. 

"  Of  how  much  did  this  fellow  rob  your  father's 
bank  ?"  he  asked. 

"The  total  defalcation,  including  money  bor- 
rowed on  title  deeds  deposited  in  the  bank,  which 
had  to  be  made  good,  was,  I  heard,  from  seventy- 
five  to  eighty  thousand  pounds,"  Tom  said. 

"  Yery  well,"  said  Lord  Beresford,  "  we  will  make 
the  scoundrel  pay  up  with  interest.  Order  out 
thirty  men  of  the  Thirteenth." 

While  the  men  were  mustering  the  general  re- 
turned to  the  dining-room  and  begged  the  officers 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  399 

who  were  dining  with  him  to  excuse  him  for  half 
an  hour,  as  he  had  some  unexpected  business  to 
perform.  Then  he  walked  across  with  the  Scuda- 
mores  to  the  banker's  house,  which  was  only  in  the 
next  street. 

Twenty  of  the  men  were  then  ordered  to  form  a 
cordon  round  the  house  and  to  watch  the  various 
entrances.  The  other  ten,  together  with  the  officer 
in  command,  the  general  told  to  follow  him  into  the 
house.  The  arrangements  completed,  he  rang  at 
the  bell,  and  the  porter  at  once  opened  the  gate. 

He  started  and  would  have  tried  to  shut  it  again 
on  seeing  the  armed  party.  But  Lord  Beresford 
said,  "  I  am  the  general  commanding  the  British 
troops  here.  Make  no  noise,  but  show  me  directly 
to  your  master." 

The  man  hesitated,  but  seeing  that  the  force  was 
too  great  to  be  resisted,  led  the  way  through  the 
courtyard  into  the  house  itself. 

Some  servants  in  the  hall  started  up  with  amaze- 
ment, and  would  have  run  off,  but  Lord  Beresford 
cried,  "  Stay  quiet  for  your  lives.  No  one  will  be 
hurt ;  but  if  any  one  moves  from  the  hall,  he  will  be 
shot."  Then,  followed  by  Tom  and  Peter  only,  he 
opened  the  door  which  the  porter  pointed  out  to 
him  as  that  of  the  room  where  the  banker  was 
sitting. 

He  was  alone,  and  started  to  his  feet  upon  be- 
holding three  British  officers  enter  unannounced, 
"What  means  this?"  he  demanded  angrily.  "I 
am  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  for  any  out- 


400  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

rage  upon  me  satisfaction  will  be  demanded  by  my 
government." 

"  I  am  Lord  Beresford,"  the  general  said  quietly, 
"  and  quite  know  what  I  am  doing.  I  do  not  quite 
agree  with  you  that  the  government  of  the  United 
States  will  make  any  demand  for  satisfaction  for 
any  outrage  upon  your  person,  nor,  if  they  do  so, 
will  it  benefit  you  greatly ;  for  I  am  about,  in 
five  minutes'  time,  to  order  you  to  be  shot,  Mr. 
Walsh." 

As  the  name  was  uttered  the  banker,  who  had 
listened  with  increasing  pallor  to  the  stern  words  of 
the  general,  started  violently,  and  turned  ghastly 
white.  For  a  minute  or  so  he  was  too  surprised 
and  confounded  to  speak.  Then  he  said  in  a  husky 
tone,  "  It  is  false ;  I  am  an  American  citizen.  I 
know  nothing  whatever  about  James  Walsh." 

"  Jarnes  Walsh  !"  the  general  said  ;  "  I  said  noth- 
ing about  James.  It  is  you  who  have  told  us  his 
Christian  name,  which  is,  I  have  no  doubt,  the  cor- 
rect one." 

He  looked  to  Tom,  who  nodded  assent. 

"  I  know  nothing  about  any  Walsh,"  the  banker 
said  doggedly.  "  Who  says  1  do?" 

"  We  do,  James  Walsh,"  Tom  said,  stepping  for- 
ward. "  Tom  and  Peter  Scudamore,  the  sons  of  the 
man  you  robbed  and  ruined." 

The  banker  stared  at  them  wildly,  and  then,  with 
a  hoarse  cry,  dropped  into  his  chair. 

"  James  Walsh,"  the  general  said  sternly,  "  your 
life  is  doubly  forfeit.  As  a  thief  and  a  swindler, 


"  I  AM  ABOUT,  IN  FIVE  MINUTES'  TIME,  TO  ORDER  YOU  TO  BE  SHOT 

MB.  WALSH."— Page  400. 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  401 

the  courts  of  law  will  punish  you  with  death ;"  for 
in  those  days  death  was  the  penalty  of  a  crime  of 
this  kind.  "  In  the  second  place,  as  a  traitor.  As 
a  man  who  has  given  aid  and  assistance  to  the 
enemies  of  }^our  country,  your  life  is  forfeit,  and  I, 
as  the  general  in  command  here,  doom  you  to  death. 
In  five  minutes  you  will  be  shot  in  your  courtyard 
as  a  thief  and  a  traitor." 

"  Spare  me  !"  the  wretched  man  said,  slipping  off 
his  chair  on  to  his  knees.  "  Spare  my  life  and  take 
all  that  I  have.  I  am  rich,  and  can  restore  much  of 
that  which  I  took.  I  will  pay  fifty  thousand 
pounds." 

"  Fifty  thousand  pounds !"  the  general  said ; 
"  you  stole  eighty  thousand  pounds,  which,  with  in- 
terest, comes  up  to  one  hundred  thousand  pounds, 
besides  which  you  must  pay  for  acting  as  a  traitor. 
The  militu-/  chest  is  empty,  and  we  want  money. 
I  will  value  your  wretched  life  at  twenty-five  thou- 
sand pounds.  If  you  make  that  sum  a  present  to 
our  military  chest,  and  pay  Major  Scudamore  the 
one  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  which  you  swin- 
dled his  father,  I  will  spare  you." 

"One  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  pounds!" 
the  banker  said  fiercely.  "  Never ;  I  will  die 
first." 

"  Yery  well,"  Lord  Beresford  said  quietly. 
"Major  Scudamore,  please  call  in  the  officer  and 
four  men."  Tom  did  as  requested,  and  Lord  Beres- 
ford then  addressed  the  officer.  "  You  will  take 
this  man,  who  is  an  Englishman,  who  has  been  apt- 


402  THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS. 

ing  as  a  traitor,  and  giving  assistance  to  the  French 
army,  you  will  take  a  firing  party,  place  him  against 
the  wall  of  the  yard,  give  him  five  minutes  to  make 
his  peace  with  God.  and  when  the  five  minutes  are 
up,  unless  he  tells  you  before  that  that  he  wishes  to 
see  me,  shoot  him." 

Pale  and  desperate,  the  banker  was  led  out. 

"  He  will  give  way,  I  hope,"  Tom  said,  as  the 
door  closed  behind  him. 

"  He  will  give  way  before  the  time  is  up,"  Lord 
Beresford  said.  "  He  is  a  coward  ;  I  saw  it  in  his 
face." 

Four  minutes  passed  on,  the  door  opened  again, 
and  the  officer  returned  with  his  prisoner.  "  He 
says  he  agrees  to  your  terms,  sir." 

"  Very  well,"  Lord  Beresford  answered  ;  "  remain 
outside  with  your  men  ;  they  may  be  wanted  yet." 

The  prisoner,  without  a  word,  led  the  way  into 
an  adjoining  room,  which  communicated  with  the 
public  office.  This  was  his  private  parlor,  and  in  a 
corner  stood  a  safe.  He  unlocked  it,  and  taking 
out  some  books  and  papers,  sat  down  to  the  table. 

His  mood  had  evidently  changed.  "•  I  was  a  fool 
to  hold  out,"  he  said,  "  for  I  had  my  name  for 
wealth  against  me,  and  might  have  known  you 
would  not  give  way.  After  all,  I  do  not  know  that 
I  am  altogether  sorry,  for  I  have  always  had  an 
idea  that  some  day  or  other  the  thing  would  come 
out,  and  now  I  can  go  back  and  be  comfortable  for 
the  rest  of  my  life.  How  will  you  have  the  money, 
gentlemen  ?  I  have  fifty  thousand  pounds  in  cash. 


THE   YOUNG   BUGLERS.  403 

and  can  give  you  a  draft  on  the  Bank  of  England 
for  the  rest.  You  look  surprised,  but  I  have  always 
been  prepared  to  cut  and  and  run  from  this  country 
at  the  shortest  notice,  and  every  penny  I  have  be- 
yond the  cash  absolutely  required  is  in  England  or 
America." 

"  I  will  take  twenty-five  thousand  pounds  in  cash 
for  the  use  of  the  army,"  Lord  Beresford  said.  "  I 
will  send  an  officer  of  the  commissariat  to-morrow 
for  it.  The  one  hundred  thousand  pounds  you  may 
pay  these  gentlemen  in  drafts  on  England.  Until 
I  hear  that  these  drafts  are  honored  I  shall  keep 
you  under  surveillance,  and  you  will  not  be  suffered 
to  leave  your  house." 

"  It  will  be  all  right,"  Walsh  said.  "  There  is 
my  Bank  of  England  pass-book  ;  you  will  see  that  I 
have  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  pounds 
standing  to  the  credit  of  J.  "Weale  there.  I  have 
as  much  in  America.  I  should  not  tell  you  this  did 
I  not  know  that  you  are  a  gentleman,  and  therefore 
will  not  raise  your  terms  now  that  you  see  I  can 
pay  higher.  There,  Mr.  Scudamore,  is  the  draft, 
and,  believe  me  or  not,  I  am  glad  to  repay  it,  and 
to  feel,  for  the  first  time  for  many  years,  a  free 
man.  Please  to  give  me  a  receipt  for  the  eighty 
thousand  pounds  due  by  me  to  the  bank,  and  for 
twenty  thousand  pounds,  five  years'  interest  on  the 
same." 

Tom  did  as  he  was  desired  without  speaking. 
There  was  a  tone  of  effrontery  mingled  with  the 
half-earnestness  of  this  successful  swindler  that  dis- 
gusted him. 


404  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

"  There,"  the  general  said,  as  the  receipts  were 
handed  over ;  "  come  along,  lads,  the  business  is 
over,  and  I  do  not  think  that  we  have  any  more  to 
say  to  Mr.  Weale." 

So  saying,  without  further  word,  the  three  went 
out. 

Upon  rejoining  the  officer  without,  Lord  Beresford 
directed  that  a  sergeant  and  ten  men  were  to  be 
quartered  in  the  house,  and  that  a  sentry  was  to  be 
placed  at  each  entrance  night  and  day,  and  that  the 
banker  was  not  to  be  permitted  to  stir  out  under 
any  pretense  whatever  until  further  orders. 

"  There,  lads,  I  congratulate  you  heartily,"  he 
said,  as  they  issued  from  the  gate,  in  answer  to  the 
warm  thanks  in  which  the  boys  expressed  their 
gratitude  to  him ;  "  it  is  a  stroke  of  luck,  indeed, 
that  you  came  with  me  to  Bordeaux.  It  was  rough- 
and-ready  justice,  and  I  don't  suppose  a  court  of  law 
in  England  would  approve  of  it;  but  we  are  under 
martial  law,  so  even  were  that  fellow  disposed  to 
question  the  matter,  which  you  may  be  very  sure 
he  will  not,  we  are  safe  enough.  They  say  'ill- 
gotten  gains  fly  fast,'  but  the  scamp  has  prospered 
on  the  money  he  stole.  He  owned  to  having  an- 
other hundred  thousand  safe  in  the  States,  and  no 
doubt  he  has  at  least  as  much  more  in  securities  of 
one  sort  or  other  here.  I  dare  say  he  was  in  earnest 
when  he  said  that  he  did  not  mind  paying  the 
money  to  get  rid  of  the  chance  of  detection  and 
punishment,  which  must  have  been  ever  in  his 
mind.  The  best  thing  you  can  do,  Scudamore,  is  to 


THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS.  405 

write  to  James  Pearson — he's  my  solicitor  in  Lon- 
don— and  give  him  authority  to  present  this  draft, 
and  invest  the  sum  in  your  joint  names  in  good 
securities.  Inclose  the  draft.  I  shall  be  sending 
off  an  orderly  with  dispatches  and  letters  at  day- 
break, and  if  ycu  will  give  mo  your  letter  to-night 
I  will  inclose  it  in  a  note  of  my  own  to  Pearson." 

Five  days  later  an  order  arrived  for  Lord  Beres- 
ford  to  leave  the  seventh  division  under  Lord  Dal- 
housie  in  Bordeaux,  and  to  march  with  the  fourth 
di\7ision  to  join  the  comma  nder-in-chief,  who  was 
gradually  drawing  near  to  Toulouse,  beneath  whose 
walls  Soult  was  reorganizing  his  army.  The  posi- 
tion was  a  very  strong  one,  and  had  been  rendered 
almost  impregnable  by  fortifications  thrown  up  on 
the  heights.  Wellington  had,  too,  the  disadvantage 
of  having  to  separate  his  army,  as  the  town  lay 
upon  both  sides  of  the  Garonne. 

An  the  10th  of  April  the  allied  army  attacked. 
Hill  attacked  the  defenses  of  the  town  on  the  left 
bank,  while  Freyre's  Spaniards,  Picton  with  the 
third  and  light  divisions,  and  Beresford  with  the 
fourth  and  the  sixth  divisions,  assaulted  a  French 
position.  The  intrenchments  in  front  of  Picton 
were  too  strong  to  be  more  than  menaced.  Freyre's 
Spaniards  were  repulsed  with  great  loss,  and  the 
brunt  of  the  battle  fell  upon  Beresford's  division, 
which  nobly  sustained  the  character  of  the  British 
soldier  for  stubborn  valor  in  this  the  last  battle  of 
the  war.  The  French  fought  stubbornly  and  well, 
but  fort  by  fort  the  British  drove  them  from  their 


406  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

strong  positions,  and  at  five  in  the  afternoon  Soult 
withdrew  the  last  of  his  troops  in  good  order  across 
the  canal  which  separated  the  position  they  had  de- 
fended from  the  town  itself.  The  French  lost  five 
generals  and  three  thousand  killed  and  wounded ; 
the  allies  four  generals  and  forty-six  hundred  and 
fifty-nine  killed  and  wounded,  of  which  two  thou- 
sand were  Spaniards,  for  they  upon  this  occasion 
fought  bravely,  though  unsuccessfully. 

On  the  llth  all  was  quiet,  Wellington  preparing 
for  an  attack  upon  the  city  on  the  following  day. 
Soult,  however,  finding  that  the  British  cavalry  had 
been  sent  off  so  as  to  menace  his  line  of  retreat, 
evacuated  the  city  in  the  night,  drew  off  his  army 
with  great  order  and  ability,  and  by  a  march  of 
twenty-two  miles  placed  it  in  safety.  Upon  the 
morning  of  the  12th  Wellington  entered  Toulouse, 
and  the  same  afternoon  two  officers,  one  British, 
the  other  French,  arrived  together  from  Paris,  with 
the  news  of  the  abdication  of  Napoleon,  and  the 
termination  of  the  war. 

These  officers  had  been  detained  for  two  days  at 
Blois  by  the  officials  there,  and  this  delay  had  cost 
the  blood  of  eight  thousand  men,  among  whom  was 
Tom  Scudamore,  who  had  his  left  arm  carried  away 
by  a  cannon  ball.  Sam,  in  the  act  of  carrying  his 
master  from  the  field,  was  also  severely  wounded 
in  the  head  with  a  musket  ball. 

Before  the  battle  was  fought  they  had  received 
news  from  England  that  the  draft  had  been  paid  at 
the  Bank  of  England,  and  that  their  future  was  in 


THE   YOUNG  BUGLERS.  407 

consequence  secure.  The  war  being  over,  officers 
unattached  to  regiments  had  little  difficulty  in  get- 
ting leave  of  absence,  as  the  troops  were  to  be 
embarked  for  England  as  soon  as  possible.  Peter's 
application,  therefore,  to  accompany  his  brother 
was  acceded  to  without  hesitation,  and  ten  days 
after  the  battle  of  Toulouse  he  was  on  board  ship 
with  Tom  and  Sam,  both  of  whom  were  doing  well. 
Three  days  afterward  they  landed  in  England. 

Rhoda  met  them,  with  Miss  Scudamore,  at  Ports- 
mouth, having  received  a  letter  telling  them  of 
Tom's  wound,  and  of  their  being  upon  the  point  of 
sailing.  There  was  a  great  reduction  of  the  army 
at  the  end  of  the  war,  and  the  Scudamores  were 
both  placed  upon  half-pay.  This  was  a  matter  of 
delight  to  Rhoda,  and  of  satisfaction  to  themselves. 
They  had  had  enough  of  adventure  to  last  for  a 
lifetime  ;  and  with  the  prospect  of  a  long  peace  the 
army  no  longer  offered  them  any  strong  attrac- 
tion. 

When  they  returned  to  Miss  Scudamore's  their 
old  friend  Dr.  Jarvis  came  to  visit  them,  and  a  hap- 
pier party  could  not  have  been  found  in  England. 
The  will  of  Mr.  Scudamore,  made  before  he  was 
aware  of  his  ruin,  was  now  acted  upon.  He  had 
left  twenty  thousand  pounds  to  Rhoda,  and  the  rest 
of  his  fortune  in  equal  parts  between  his  boys. 
Both  Tom  and  Peter  were  fond  of  a  country  life, 
and  they  bought  two  adjoining  estates  near  Oxford, 
Rhoda  agreeing  to  stop  with  them  and  Miss  Scuda- 
more alternately. 


408  THE  YOUNG  BUGLERS. 

For  a  brief  time  there  was  a  break  in  their  hap- 
piness. Napoleon  escaped  from  Elba,  and  Europe 
was  in  a  flame  again.  All  the  officers  on  half-pay 
were  ordered  to  present  themselves  for  duty,  and 
the  Scudamores  crossed  with  the  army  to  Belgium, 
and  fought  at  Waterloo.  Neither  was  hurt,  nor 
was  Sam,  who  had  of  course  accompanied  them. 
"Waterloo  gave  them,  another  step  in  rank,  and  the 
Scudamores  returned  as  colonels  to  England. 

It  was  their  last  war.  A  few  years  afterward 
they  married  sisters,  and  Rhoda  having  the  year 
previous  married  a  gentleman  whose  estate  was  in 
the  same  county,  they  remained  as  united  as  ever. 
Sambo  held  for  many  a  year  the  important  position 
of  butler  to  Tom,  then  he  found  that  one  of  the 
housemaids  did  not  regard  his  color  as  any  insuper- 
able obstacle,  and  they  were  accordingly  married. 
It  was  difficult  to  say  after  this  exactly  the  position 
which  Sam  held.  He  lived  at  a  cottage  on  the 
edge  of  the  estate,  where  it  joined  that  of  Peter, 
and  his  time  was  spent  in  generally  looking  after 
things  at  both  houses,  and  as  years  went  on  his 
great  delight  was,  above  all  things,  to  relate  to 
numerous  young  Scudamores  the  adventures  of  their 
father  and  uncle  when  he  first  knew  them  as  the 
Young  Buglers. 


THE  EXD. 


A,  L.  Burt's  Catalogue  of  Books  for 
Young  People  by  Popular  Writers,  52- 
58  Duane  Street,  New  York  ^  ^  ^ 


BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Joe's  Luck:    A  Boy's  Adventures  in  California.    By 

HORATIO  ALQER,  JR.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

The  story  is  chock  full  of  stirring  incidents,  while  the  amusing  situ- 
ations are  furnished  by  Joshua  Bickford,  from  Pumpkin  Hollow,  and  the 
fellow  who  modestly  styles  himself  the  "Rip-tail  Roarer,  from  Pike  Co., 
Missouri."  Mr.  Aleer  never  writes  a  poor  book,  and  "Joe's  Luck"  is  cer- 
tainly one  of  his  best. 

Tom  the  Bootblack;  or,   The  Koad  to   Success.     By 

HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.    12ino,  cloth,  illustrated^,  price  $1.00. 

A  bright,  enterprising  lad  was  Tom  the  Bootblack.  He  was  not  at  all 
ashamed  of  his  humble  calling,  though  always  on  the  lookout  to  better 
himself.  The  lad  started  for  Cincinnati  to  look  up  his  heritage.  Mr. 
Grey,  th-i  uncle,  did  not  hesitate  to  employ  a  ruffian  to  kill  the  lad.  The 
plan  failed,  and  Gilbert  Grey,  once  Tom  the  bootblack,  came  into  a  com- 
fortable fortune.  This  is  one  of  Mr.  Alger's  best  stories. 

Dan  the  Newsboy.    By   HORATIO   ALGER,   JR.    12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Dan  Mordaunt  and  his  mother  live  in  a  poor  tenement,  and  the  lad  is 
pluckily  trying  to  make  ends  meet  by  selling  papers  in  the  streets  of  New 
York.  A  little  heiress  of  six  years  is  confided  to  the  care  of  the  Mor- 
daunts.  The  child  is  kidnapped  and  Dan  tracks  the  child  to  the  house 
where  she  is  hidden,  and  rescues  her.  The  wealthy  aunt  of  the  little 
heiress  is  so  delighted  with  Dan's  courage  and  many  good  qualities 
that  she  adopts  him  as  her  heir. 

Tony  the  Hero:     A    Brave    Boy's    Adventure  with  a 

Tramp.    By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Tony,  a  sturdy  bright-eyed  boy  of  fourteen,  is  under  the  control  of 
Rudolph  Rugg,  a  thorough  rascal.  After  much  abuse  Tony  runs  away 
and  gets  a  job  as  stable  boy  in  a  country  hotel.  Tony  is  heir  to  a 
large  estate.  Rudolph  for  a  consideration  hunts  UD  Tony  and  throws 
him  down  a  deep  well.  Of  course  Tony  escapes  from  the  fate  provided 
for  him,  and  by  a  brave  act,  a  rich  friend  secures  his  rights  and  Tony 
Is  prosperous.  A  very  entertaining  book. 

The  Errand  Boy;  or,  How  Phil  Brent  Won  Success. 

By  HORATIO  A:  GER,  JR.    12mo,  cloth  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

The  career  of  "The  Errand  Boy"  embraces  the  city  adventures  of  a 
•mart  country  lad.  Philip  was  brought  up  by  a  kind-hearted  innkeeper 
named  Brent.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Brent  paved  the  way  for  the  hero's 
subsequent  troubles.  A  retired  merchant  in  New  York  secures  him  the 
situation  of  errand  boy,  and  thereafter  stands  as  his  friend. 

Tom  Temple's  Career.     By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.     12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  §1.00. 

Tom  Temple  is  a  bright,  self-reliant  lad.  He  leaves  Plympton  village 
to  seek  work  in  New  York,  whence  he  undertakes  an  important  mission 
to  California.  Some  of  his  adventures  in  the  far  west  are  so  startling  that 
the  reader  will  scarcely  close  the  book  until  the  last  page  shall  have  been 
reached.  The  tale  is  written  in  Mr.  Alger's  most  fascinating  style. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  oil  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUB.T,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York, 


2          A.  L.  BtJllT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Frank  Fowler,  the  Cash  Boy.     By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Frank  Fowler,  a  poor  boy.  bravely  determines  to  make  a  living  toe 
himself  and  his  foster-sister  Grace.  Going  to  New  York  he  obtains  a 
situation  as  cash  boy  in  a  dry  goods  store.  He  renders  a  service  to  a 
wealthy  old  gentleman  who  takes  a  fancy  to  the  lad,  and  thereafter 
helps  the  lad  to  gain  success  aud  fortune. 

Tom  Thatcher's   Fortune.     By    HORATIO    ALGER,  JR. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1-00. 

Tom  Thatcher  is  a  brave,  ambitious,  unselfish  boy.  He  supports  his 
mother  and  sister  on  meagre  wag«s  earned  as  a  shoe-pegger  in  John 
Simpson's  factory.  Tom  is  discharged  from  the  factory  and  starts  over- 
land for  California.  He  meets  with  many  adventures.  The  story  is  told 
In  a  way  which  has  made  Mr.  Alger's  name  a  household  word  in  so  many 
homes. 

The  Train    Boy.    By    HORATIO    ALGER,    JR.     12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  81.00. 

Paul  Palmer  was  a  wide-awake  boy  of  sixteen  who  supported  his  mother 
and  sister  by  selling  books  and  papers  on  the  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad.  He  detects  a  young  man  in  the  act  of  picking  the  pocket  of  a 
young  lady.  In  a  railway  accident  many  passengers  are  killed,  but  Paul 
is  fortunate  enough  to  assist  a  Chicago  merchant,  who  out  of  gratitude 
takes  him  into  his  employ.  Paul  succeeds  with  tact  and  judgment  and 
is  well  started  on  the  road  to  business  prominence. 

Mark  Mason's  Victory.     The  Trials  and  Triumphs  of 

a  Telegraph  Boy.    By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price 

$1.00. 

Mark  Mason,  the  telegraph  boy,  was  a  sturdy,  honest  lad,  who  pluckily 
won  his  way  to  success  by  his  honest  manly  efforts  under  many  diffi- 
culties. This  story  will  please  the  very  large  class  of  boys  who  regard 
Mr.  Alger  as  a  favorite  author. 

A  Debt  of  Honor.     The  Story  of  Gerald  Lane's  Success 

in  the  Far  West.    By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.     12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price 

$1.00. 

The  story  of  Gerald  Lane  and  the  account  of  the  many  trials  and  dis- 
appointments which  he  passed  through  befor_  he  attained  success,  will 
Interest  all  boys  who  have  read  the  previous  stories  of  this  delightful 
author. 

Ben  Bruce.     Scenes  in  the  Life  of  a  Bowery  Newsboy. 

By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.    12mo.  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Ben  Bruce  was  a  brave,  manly,  generous  boy.  The  story  of  his  efforts, 
and  many  seeming  failures  and  disappointments,  and  his  final  success,  are 
most  interesting  to,  all  readers.  The  tale  is  written  in  Mr.  Alger's 
most  fascinating  style. 

The  Castaways;  or,  On  the  Florida  Reefs.     By  JAMES 

OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  tale  smacks  of  the  salt  sea.  From  the  moment  that  the  Sea 
Queen  leaves  lower  New  York  bay  till  the  breeze  -  leaves  her  becalmed  oft 
the  coast  of  Florida,  one  can  almost  hear  the  whistle  of  the  wind 
through  her  rigging,  the  creak  of  her  straining  cordage  as  she  heels  to 
the  leeward.  The  adventures  of  Ben  Clark,  the  hero  of  the  storv  and 
Jake  the  cook,  cannot  fall  to  chnrm  the  reader.  As  a  writer  for  young 
people  Mr.  Otis  is  a  prime  favorite. 

For  sale  by  all  boofrsulZcr.s,  or  snnt  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUKT,  52-53  Duane  Street,  New  York, 


A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE.          3 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Wrecked  on  Spider  Island;  or,  How  Ned  Rogers  Found 

•    the  Treasure.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    ISrno,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  81.00. 

Ned  Rogers,  a  "down-east"  plucky  lad  ships  as  cabin  boy  to  earn 
a  livelihood.  Ned  Is  marooned  on  Spider  Island,  and  while  there  dis- 
covers a  wreck  submerged  in  the  sand,  and  finds  a  considerable  amount 
of  treasure.  The  capture  of  the  treasure  and  the  Incidents  of  the 
voyage  serve  to  make  as  entertaining  a  story  of  sea-life  as  the  most 
captious  boy  could  desire. 

The  Search  for  the  Silver  City :  A  Tale  of  Adventure  in 

Yucatan.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    ISino,  cloth,  illustrated,  pi-ice  $1.00. 

Two  lads,  Teddy  Wright  and  Neal  Emery,  embark  on  the  steam 
yacht  Day  Dream  for  a  cruise  to  the  tropics.  The  yacht  Is  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  then  the  boat  is  cast  upon  the  coast  of  Yucatan.  They 
hoar  of  the  wonderful  Silver  City,  of  the  Chan  Santa  Cruz  Indians, 
and  with  the  help  of  a  faithful  Indian  ally  carry  off  a  number  of  the 
golden  images  from  the  temples.  Pursued  ,with  relentless  vigor  at  last 
their  escape  is  effected  in  au  astonishing  manner.  The  story  Is  so 
full  of  exciting  incidents  that  the  reader  is  quite  carried  away  with 
the  novelty  and  realism  of  the  narrative. 

A    Runaway    Brig;  or,    An    Accidental    Cruise.     By 

JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  is  a  sea  tale,  and  the  reader  can  look  out  upon  the  wide  shimmer- 
Ing  sea  as  it  flashes  back  the  sunlight,  and  imagine  himself  afloat  with 
Harry  Vandyne,  Walter  Morse,  Jim  Libby  and  that  old  shell-back,  Bob 
Brace,  on  the  brig  Bonita.  The  boys  discover  a  mysterious  document 
which  enables  them  to  find  a  buried  treasure.  They  are  .stranded  on 
an  island  and  at  last  are  rescued  with  the  treasure.  The  boys  are  sure 
to  be  fascinated  with  this  entertaining  story. 

The     Treasure     Finders:     A    Boy's    Adventures    in 

Nicaragua.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Roy  and  Dean  Coloney,  with  their  guide  Tongla,  leave  their  father's 
indigo  plantation  to  visit  the  wonderful  ruins  of  an  ancient  city.  The 
i/o.vs  eagerly  explore  the  temples  of  an  extinct  race  and  discover  threo 
ir.<!di>n  images  cunningly  hidden  away.  They  escape  with  the  greatest 
.liiiieuity.  Eventually  they  reach  safety  with  their  gollen  prizes.  We 
tioubt  if  there  ever  was  written  a  more  entertaining  story  than  "The 
Treasure  Finders." 

Jack,  tlie  Hunchback.     A  Story  of  the  Coast  of  Maine, 

By  JAMES  OTIS.    Price  §1.00. 

This  is  the  story  of  a  little  hunchback  who  lived  on  Cape  Elizabeth, 
on  the  coast  of  Maine.  His  trials  and  successes  are  most  interesting. 
From  first  to  last  nothing  stays  the  interest  of  the  narrative.  It  bears  us 
along  as  on  a  stream  whose  current  varies  in  direction,  but  never  loses 
its  force. 

With  Washington  at  Monmouth:    A   Story   of   Three 

Philadelphia   Boys.     By  JAMES  OTIS.     12mo,    ornamental   cloth,   olivine 

edjjes,  illustrated,  price  $1.50. 

Three  Philadelphia  lads  assist  the  American  spies  and  make  regular 
and  frequent  visits  to  Valley  Forge  in  the  Winter  while  the  British 
occupied  the  city.  The  story  abounds  with  pictures  of  Colonial  life 
skillfully  drawn,  and  the  glimpses  of  Washington's  soldiers  which  are 
given  shown  that  the  work  has  not  been  hastily  done,  or  without  con- 
siderable study.  The  story  is  wholesome  and  patriotic  in  tone,  as  are 
all  of  Mr.  Otis'  works. 


For  sale  by  all  booksellers,   or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  bj   tho 
publisher,  A.  L.  BURX,   62-53  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


4       A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

With  Lafayette  at  Yorktown:  A  Story  of  How  Two 

Boys  Joined  the  Continental  Army.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  ornamental 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  illustrated,  price  $1.50. 

Two  lads  from  Portmouth,  N.  H.,  attempt  to  enlist  In  the  Colonial 
Army,  and  are  given  employment  as  spies.  There  is  no  lack  of  exciting 
Incidents  which  the  youthful  reader  craves,  but  It  is  healthful  excite- 
ment brimming  with  facts  which  every  boy  should  be  familiar  with, 
and  while  the  reader  is  following  the  adventures  of  Ben  Jaffrays  and 
Ned  Allen  he  is  acquiring  a  fund  of  historical  lore  which  will  remain 
In  his  memory  long  after  thut  which  he  has  memorized  from  text- 
books has  been  forgotten. 

At  the  Siege  of  Havana.     Being  the  Experiences  of 

Three  Boys  Serving  under  Israel  Putnam  in  1762.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo, 

ornamental  cloth,  olivine  edges,  illustrated,  price  81.50. 
"At    the   Siege   of    Havana"    deals   with    that    portion   of   the   island's 
history    when    the    English    king    captured    the    capital,     thanks    to    the 
assistance  given   by   the   troops  from   New   England,   led   In   part  by   Col. 
Israel    Putnam. 

The  principal  characters  are  Darius  Lunt,  the  lad  who,  represented  as 
telling  the  story,  and  his  comrades,  Robert  Clement  and  Nicholas 
Vallet.  Colonel  Putnam  also  figures  to  considerable  extent,  necessarily, 
In  the  tale,  and  the  whole  forms  one  of  the  most  readable  stories  founded  on 
historical  facts. 

The  Defense  of  Fort  Henry.       A  Story  of  Wheeling 

Creek  in  1777.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  ornamental  cloth,  olivine  edges, 

illustrated,  price  8  1.50. 

Nowhere  In  the  history  of  our  country  can  be  found  more  heroic  or 
thrilling  incidents  than  in  the  story  of  those  brave  men  and  women 
who  founded  the  settlement  of  Wheeling  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia.  The 
recital  of  what  Elizabeth  Zaue  did  is  in  itself  as  heroic  a  story  as  can 
be  Imagined.  The  wondrous  bravery  displayed  by  Major  McCullnch 
and  bis  gallant  comrades,  the  sufferings  of  the  colonists  and  their  sacrifice 
of  blood  and  life,  stir  the  blood  of  old  as  well  as  young  readers. 

The  Capture  of  the  Laughing  Mary.     A  Story  of  Three 

New  York  Boys  in  1776.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  ornamental  cloth,  olivine 

edges,  price  81.50. 

"During  the  British  occupancy  of  New  York,  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolution,  a  Yankee  lad  hears  of  the  plot  to  take  General  Washington's 
person,  and  calls  in  two  :ouipaulons  to  assist  the  patriot  cause.  They 
do  some  astonishing  things,  and,  incidentally,  lay  the  way  for  nn 
American  navy  later,  by  the  exploit  which  gives  its  name  to  the 
work.  Mr.  Otis'  books  are  too  well  known  to  require  any  particular 
commendation  to  the  young." — Evening:  Post. 

With  Warren  at  Bunker  Hill.    A  Story  of  the  Siege  of 

Boston.     By  JAMES  OTIS.     12mo,  ornametnal  cloth,  olivine  edges,  illus 

trated,  price  81-50. 

"This  Is  a  tale  of  the  siege  of  Boston,  which  opens  on  the  day  after 
the  doings  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  with  a  description  of  home  111'" 
In  Boston,  Introduces  the  reader  to  the  British  camp  at  Charlestown, 
shows  Gen.  Warren  at  home,  describes  what  a  boy  thought  of  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  closes  with  the  raising  of  the  siege.  The 
three  heroes,  George  Wentworth.  Ben  Scarlett  and  an  old  rnpcmakor, 
Incur  the  enmity  of  a  young  Tory,  who  causes  them  many  adventures 
the  boys  will  like  to  read." — Detroit  Free  Press. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUBT,  62-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


A.  L.  BUUT^S  BOOKS  FOR  xOUNG  PEOPLE.          5 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

With  the  Swamp  Fox.     The  Story  of  General  Marion's 

Spies.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  story  deals  with  General  Francis  Marion's  heroic  struggle  In  the 
Carolines.  General  Marion's  arrival  to  take  command  of  these  brave 
men  and  rough  riders  is  pictured  as  a  boy  might  have  seen  It.  and 
although  the  story  is  devoted  to  what  the  lads  did,  the  Swamp  Fox 
is  ever  present  in  the  inind  of  the  reader. 

On  the  Kentucky  Frontier.     A  Story  of  the  Fighting 


that  or  me  WOTK  aone  on  me  Mississippi  river  uy  a  nanuiui  01  rrontiers- 
incn.  Mr.  Otis  takes  the  reader  on  that  famous  expedition  from  the 
arrival  of  Major  Clarke's  force  at  Corn  Island,  until  Kaskaskia  was 
captured.  He  relates  that  part  of  Simon  Kenton's  life  history  which 
is  not  usually  touched  upon  either  by  the  historian  or  the  story  teller. 
This  is  one  of  the  must  entertaining  books  for  young  people  which  has 
been  published. 

Sarah  Dillard's  Ride.      A   Story  of  South   Carolina  in 

in  1780.    By  JAMES  OTIS.     I2mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  book  deals  with  the  Carolinas  in  1780,  giving  a  wealth  of  detail  of 
the  Mountain  Men  who  struggled  so  valiantly  against  the  king's  troops. 
Major  Ferguson  is  the  prominent  British  officer  of  the  story,  which  ia 
told  as  though  coming  from  a  youth  who  experienced  these  adventures. 
In  this  way  the  famous  ride  of  Sarah  Dillard  is  brought  out  as  an 
Incident  of  the  plot." — Boston  Journal. 

A  Tory  Plot.     A  Story  of  the  Attempt  to  Kill  General 

Washington.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    18mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"  'A  Tory  Plot'  is  the  story  of  two  lads  who  overhear  something 
of  the  plot  originated  during  the  Revolution  by  Gov.  Tryon  to  capture 
or  murder  Washington.  They  communicate  their  knowledge  to  Gen. 
Putnam  and  are  commissioned  by  him  to  play  the  role  of  detectives 
In  the  matter.  They  do  so,  and  meet  with  many  adventures  and  halr- 
"breadth  escapes.  The  boys  are,  of  course,  mythical,  but  they  serve  to  en- 
able the  author  to  put  into  very  attractive  shape  much  valuable  knowledge 
concerning  one  phase  of  the  Revolution." — Pittsburgh  Times. 

A  Traitor's  Escape.     A  Story  of  the  Attempt  to  Seize 

Benedict  Arnold.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  is  a  tale  with  stirring  scenes  depicted  in  each  chapter,  bringing 
clearly  before  the  mind  the  glorious  deeds  of  the  early  settlers  In  this 
country.  In  an  historical  work  dealing  with  this  country's  past,  no 
plot  can  hold  the  attention  closer  than  this  one,  which  describes  the 
attempt  and  partial  success  of  Benedict  Arnold's  escape  to  New  York, 
where  he  remained  as  the  guest  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  All  those  who 
actually  figured  in  the  arrest  of  the  traitor,  as  well  as  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, are  included  as  characters." — Albany  Union. 

A  Cruise  with  Paul  Jones.     A  Story  of  Kaval  Warfare 

in  1776.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  story  takes  up  that  portion  of  Paul  Jones'  adventurous  life 
when  he  was  hovering  off  the  British  coast,  watching  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  strike  the  enemy  a  blow.  It  deals  more  particularly  with 
his  descent  upon  Whltehaven,  the  seizure  of  Lady  Selkirk's  plate,  and 
the  famous  battle  with  the  Drake.  The  boy  who  figures  in  the  tale 
Is  one  who  was  taken  from  a  derelict  by  Paul  Jones  shortly  after  this 
particular  cruise  was  begun." — Chicago  Inter-Ocean. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  By  the^ 
publisher.  A.  L.  BURX,  62-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


6       A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Corporal  Lige's  Recruit.     A  Story  of  Crown  Point  and 

Ticonderoga.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  81,00. 
"In    'Corporal   Lige's   Recruit,'    Mr.    Otis  tells   the   amusing   story   of   an 
old  soldier,   proud  of  bis  record,  who  had  served  the  king  In  '58.  and  who 
'  takes    the    lad,    Isaac    Rice,    as    his    'personal    recruit.'        The    lad    acquits 
himself   superbly.     Col.    Ethan    Allen    'in    the    name   of   God    and    the   con- 
tinental  coheres*,'    infuses   much   martini   spirit   into   the   narrative,    which 
will    arouse    the    keenest    interest    as    it    proceeds.     Crown    Point.    Ticon- 
deroga,     Benedict    Arnold    and    numerous    other    famous    historical    names 
appear  in  this  dramatic  tale." — Boston  Globe. 

Morgan,  the  Jersey  Spy.  A  Story  of  the  Siege  of  York- 
town  in  1781.    By  JAMES  OTIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 
"The  two  lads  who  are  utilized  by  the  author  to  emphasize  the  detail.-; 


squad  of  red  coats,  when  they  are  exposed  equally  to  the  bullets  of 
friends  and  foes,  told  in  a  masterly  fashion,  makes  of  this  volume  one 
of  the  most  entertaining  books  of  the  year." — Inter-Oocan. 

The  Young  Scout:  The  Story  of  a  West  Point  Lieu- 
tenant. By  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 
The  crafty  Apache  chief  Geronimo  but  a  few  years  ago  was  the 
most  terrible  scourge  of  the  southwest  border.  The  author  has  woven, 
in  a  tale  of  thrilling  interest,  all  the  incidents  of  Geronimo's  last  raid. 
The  hero  is  Lieutenant  James  Decker,  a  recent  graduate  of  West  Point. 
Ambitious  to  distinguish  himself  the  young  man  takes  many  a  desperate 
chance  against  the  enemy  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  narrowly 
escapes  with  his  life.  In  our  opinion  Mr.  Ellis  is  the  best  writer  of 
Indian  stories  now  before  the  public. 

Adrift  in  the  Wilds:     The  Adventures  of  Two  Ship- 
wrecked Boys.    By  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 
Blwood  Brandon    and    Howard    Lawrence    are    en    route    for    San    Fran- 
cisco.    Off   th°.  coast  of  California  the  steamer  takes  fire.       The  two  boys 
reach    the    shore    with    several    of    the    passengers.     Young    Brandon    be- 
comes   separated    from    his    party    and    is    captured    by    hostile    Indians, 
but    is    afterwards    rescued.     This    is    a    very    entertaining    narrative    of 
Southern    California. 

A  Young  Hero;  or,  Fighting  to  Win.     By  EDWARD  S. 

ELLIS.    12ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  §1.00. 

This  story  tells  how  a  valuable  solid  silver  service  was  stolen  from 
the  Misses  Perkinpine,  two  very  old  and  simple  minded  ladies.  Fred 
Pholdon,  the  hero  of  this  story,  undertakes  to  discover  the  thieves  and 
have  them  arrested.  After  much  time  spent  in  detective  work,  he 
succeeds  in  discovering  the  silver  plate  and  winning  the  reward.  The 
story  is  told  in  Mr.  Ellis'  most  fascinating  style.  Every  boy  will  be 
plnd  to  read  this  delightful  book. 

Lost  in  the  Rockies.     A  Story  of  Adventure  in  the 

Rocky  Mountains.    By  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS.    22ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1. 

Incident  succeeds  incident,  and  adventjre  is  piled  upon  adventure, 
riMl  at  the  end  the  reader,  be  he  boy  or  man.  will  have  experienced 
breathleM  i>njo.vment  in  this  romantic  story  describing  many  adventures  in 
vht'  Rockies  and  among  the  Indians. 

For  sale  by  ill  booksellfrs.  or  sont  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher.  A.  i,.  3URX,  52-53  Dua.no  Street,  New  York. 


A.  L.  BURT'S  BOOKS  FOE  YOUNG  PEOPLE.          7 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYST" 

A  Jaunt  Through  Java:     The  Story  of  a  Journey  to 

the  Sacred  Mountain.    By  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS,    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated, 

price  $1.00. 

The  interest  of  this  story  is  found  in  the  thrilling  adventures  of 
two  cousins,  Hermon  and  Eustace  Hadley,  on  their  trip  acrosss  the  island 
of  Java,  from  Samarang  to  the  Sacred  Mountain.  In  a  land  where  the 
Royal  Bengal  tiger,  the  rhinoceros,  and  other  fierce  leasts  are  to  be 
rnet  with,  it  is  hut  natural  that  the  heroes  of  this  book  should  have  a 
~tiv;>ly  experience.  There  is  not  a  dull  page  in  the-  book. 

The  Boy  Patriot.     A  Story  of  Jack,  the  Young  Friend 

of  Washington.    By  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS.    ISino,  cloth,  oliviue  edges,  illus- 
trated, price  $1.50. 

"There  are  adventures  of  all  kinds  for  the  hero  and  his  friends,  whose 
pluck  and  ingenuity  in  extricating  themselves  from  awkward  fixes  aro 
always  equal  to  the  occasion.  It  is  an  excellent  story  full  of  honest, 
manly,  patriotic  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  hero.  A  very  vivid  description 
of  the  battle  of  Trenton  is  also  found  in  '  this  story." — Journal  of 
Education. 

A  Yankee  lad's  Pluck.     How  Bert  Larkin  Saved  his 

Father's  Ranch  in  Porio  Rico.    By  WM.  P.  CHIPMAN.    12mo,  cloth,  illus- 
trated, price  $1.00. 

"Bert  Larkin,  the  hero  of  the  story,  early  excites  our  admiration, 
and  is  altogether  a  fine  character  such  as  boys  will  delight  in,  whilst 
the  story  of  his  numerous  adventures  is  very  graphically  told.  This 
will,  we  think,  prove  one  of  the  most  popular  boys'  books  this  season."— 
Gazette. 

A  Brave  Defense.     A   Story  of  the   Massacre  at   Fort 

Griswold  in  1781.    By  WILLIAM  P.  CHIPMAN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price 

$1.00. 

Perhaps  no  more  gallant  fight  against  fearful  odds  took  place  during 
the  Revolutionary  War  than  that  at  Fort  Griswold,  Groton  Heights,  Conn., 
in  1781.  The  boys  are  real  hoys  who  were  actually  on  the  muster  rolls, 
either  at  Fort  Trumbull  on  the  New  London  side,  or  of  Fort  Griswold  on 
the  Groton  side  of  the  Thames.  The  youthful  reader  who  follows  Halsey 
Sauford  and  Levi  Dart  and  Tom  Malleson,  and  their  equally  brave  com- 
rades, through  their  thrilling  adventures  will  be  learning  something  more 
than  historical  facts;  they  will  be  imbibing  lessons  of  fidelity,  of  bravery, 
of  heroism,  and  of  manliness,  which  must  prove  serviceable  in  the  arena 
of  life. 

The  Young  Minuteman.     A  Story  of  the  Capture  of 

General  Prescott  in  1777.    By  WILLIAM  P.  CHIPMAN.    12uio,  cloth,  illustrated, 

price  $1.00. 

This  story  is  based  upon  actual  events  which  occurred  during  the  British 
occupation  of  the  waters  of  Narragansett  Bay.  Darius  Wale  and  William 
Northrop  belong  toi  "the  coast  patrol."  The  story  is  a  strong  one,  dealing 
only  with  actual  events.  There  is,  however,  no  lack  of  thrilling  adventure, 
and  every  lad  who  is  fortunate  enough  to  obtain  the  book  will  find  not 
only  that  his  historical  knowledge  is  increased,  but  that  his  own  patriotism 
and  love  of  country  are  deepened. 

For  the  Temple:    A  Tale  of  the  Fall  of  Jerusalem. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.  With  illustrations  by  S.  J.  SOLOMON.  12mo,  cloth,  olivine 
edgea,  price  Si. 00. 

"Mr.  Henty's  graphic  prose  picture  of  the  hopeless  Jewish  resistance 
to  Roman  sway  adds  another  leaf  to  his  record  of  the  famous  wars  of 
the  world.  The  book  is  one  of  Mr.  Henty's  cleverest  efforts." — Graphic. 

!'')!•  pule  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  tha 
publisher,  A,  L.  BURT,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


8       A.  L.  BURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Eoy  Gilbert's  Search:     A  Tale  of  the  Great  Lakes.     By 

WM.  P.  CHIPMAN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

A  deep  mystery  hangs  over  the  parentage  of  Roy  Gilbert.  He  arranges 
with  two  schoolmates  to  make  a  tour  of  the  Great  Lakes  on  a  steam 
launch.  The  three  boys  visit  many  points  of  interest  on  the  lakes. 
Afterwards  the  lads  rescue  an  elderly  gentleman  and  a  lady  from  a  sink- 
ing yacht.  Later  on  the  boys  narrowly  escape  with  their  lives.  The 
hero  is  a  manly,  st-'lf-reliuut  boy,  whose  adventures  will  be  followed 
with  interest. 

The  Slate  Picker:     The  Story  of  a  Boy's  Life  in  the 

Coal  Mines.    By  HARKY  PRENTICE.    12ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  81. 00. 

This  is  a  story  of  a  boy's  life  in  the  coal  mines  of  Pennsylvania. 
Ben  Burton,  the  hero,  had  a  hard  road  to  travel,  but  by  grit  and  energy 
he  advanced  step  by  step  until  he  found  himself  culled  upon  to  fill  the 
position  of  chief  engineer  of  the  Kohinoor  Coal  Company.  This  is  a 
book  of  extreme  Interest  to  every  boy  reader. 

The  Boy  Cruisers;  or,  Paddling  in  Florida.     By  ST. 

GEORGE  RATRBOUNE.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00 
Andrew  George  and  Rowland  Carter  start  on  a  canoe  trip  along  the 
Gulf  coast,  from  Key  West  to  Tampa,  Florida.  Their  first  adventure 
is  with  a  pair  of  rascals  who  steal  their  boats.  Next  they  run  into 
a  gale  in  the  Gulf.  After  that  they  have  a  lively  time  with  alli- 
gators and  Andrew  gets  into  trouble  with  a  band  of  Seminole  Indians. 
Mr.  Rntbborne  knows  just  how  to  interest  the  boys,  and  lads  who  are 
in  search  of  a  rare  treat  will  do  well  to  read  this  entertaining  story. 

Captured  by  Zulus:     A  Story  of  Trapping  in  Africa. 

By  HARHY  PUKNTICE.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  gl.OO. 

This  story  details  the  adventures  of  two  lads,  Dick  Elsworth  and  Rob 
Karv<\v,  in  the  wilds  of  South  Africa.  By  stratagem  tlu-  Zulus  capture 
Dick  and  Bob  and  take  them  to  their  principal  kra:il  or  vilhtc1'.  The 
lads  escape  death  by  dig  iug  their  way  out  of  the  prison  hut  by  night. 
They  are  pursued,  but  the  Zulus  finally  give  up  pursuit.  Mr.  Prentice 
tells  exactly  how  wild-boast  collectors  secure  specimens  mi  th>'ir  native 
stamping  grounds,  and  these  descriptions  make  very  entertaining  reading. 

Tom  the  Ready;  or,  Up  from  the  Lowest,     By  KAN- 

DOLPH  HILL.    12me,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1 

This  Is  a  dramatic  narrative  of  the  unaided  rise  of  a  fearless,  ambi- 
tious boy  from  the  lowest  round  of  fortune's  ladder  to  v\c:.lth  and  the 
governorship  of  his  native  State.  Tom  Seacomb  begins  life  with  a  pur- 
nose,  and  eventnallv  overcomes  those  who  oppose  him.  How  he  ::ia  napes 
to  win  the  battle  Is  told  by  Mr.  Hill  in  a  masterfi '  way  that  thrills 
the  reader  and  holds  his  attention  and  symnnt'iy  to  ti.e  end. 

Captain  Kidd's  Gold:  The  True  Story  of  an  Adven- 
turous Sailor  Boy.  By  JAMES  FRANKLIN  FITTS.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated, 
price  §1.00. 

There  is  something  fascinating  to  the  average  yonth  In  the  very  idea 
of  burled  treasure.  A  vision  arises  before  his  eyes  of  swarthy  Portu- 
guese and  Spanish  rascals,  with  black  beards  and  gleaming  eyes.  There 
were  many  famous  sea  rovers,  but  none  more  celebrated  than  Capt.  Kidd. 
Paul  Jones  Garry  Inherits  a  document  which  locates  a  considerable 
treasure  burled  by  two  of  Kidd's  crew.  The  hero  of  this  book  is  an 
ambitious,  persevering  lad,  of  salt-water  New  England  ancestry,  and  his 
efforts  to  reach  the  island  and  secure  the  money  form  one  of  the  most 
absorbing  tales  for  our  youth  that  has  come  from  the  t.ri'.ss. ^^ 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L,  BUBT,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE.       & 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

The  Boy  Explorers:     The  Adventures  of  Two  Boys  in 

Alaska.    By  HARRV  PRENTICE.    I2mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Two  boys,  Raymond  and  Spencer  Manning,  travrl  to  Alaska  to  join 
their  father  in  search  of  their  uncle.  On  their  arrival  at  Sitka  the  boys 
with  an  Indian  guide  set  off  across  the  mountains.  The  trip  is  fraught 
with  perils  that  test  the  lads'  courarro  to  the  utmost.  All  through  their 
exciting  adventures  the  lads  demonstrate  what  can  be  accomplished  by 
pluck  and  resolution,  and  their  experience  makes  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting tales  ever  written. 

The    Island    Treasure;    or,    Harry    Barrel's    Fortune. 

By  FRANK  H.  CONVERSE.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Harry  Darrel,  having  received  a  nautical  training  on  a  school-ship,  is 
bent  on  going  to  sea.  A  runaway  horse  changes  his  prospects.  Harry 
saves  Dr.  Gregg  from  drowning  and  afterward  becomes  sailing-master 
of  a  sloop  yacht.  Mr.  Converse's  stories  possess  a  charm  of  their  own 
which  is  appreciated  by  lads  who  delight  in  good  healthy  tales  that 
smack  of  salt  water. 

Guy  Harris:     The  Kunaway.     By  HARRY  CASTLEMON. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Guy  Harris  lived  in  a  small  city  on  the  shore  of  one  of  the  Great 
Lakes.  He  is  persuaded  to  go  to  sea,  and  gets  a  glimpse  of  the  rough 
side  of  life  in  a  sailor's  boarding  house.  He  ships  on  a  vessel  and  for 
five  months  leads  a  hard  life.  The  book  will  interest  boys  generally 
on  account  of  its  graphic  style.  This  is  one  of  Castlemon's  most  attract- 
ive stories. 

Julian  Mortimer:     A  Brave  Boy's  Struggle  for  Home 

and  Fortune.    By  H.\RRY  CASTLEJION.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1. 

The  scene  of  the  story  lies  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  in  the  days 
when  emigrants  made  their  perilous  way  across  the  great  plains  to  the 
land  of  gold.  There  is  an  attack  upon  the  wagon  train  by  a  large  party 
of  Indians.  Our  hero  is  a  .'ad  of  uncommon  ne*ve  and  pluck.  Befriended 
by  a  stalwart  trapper,  a  real  rough  diamond,  our  hero  achieves  the  most 
happy  results. 

By  Pike  and  Dyke:     A  Tale  of  the  Else  of  the  Dutch 

Republic.    By  G.  A.   HENTY.    With   illustrations   by   MATNARD   BROWN. 

12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Boys  with  a  turn  for  historical  research  will  be  enchanted  with  the 
book,  while  the  rest  who  only  care  for  adventure  will  be  students  in  spite 
of  themselves." — St.  James's  Gazette. 

St.  George  for  England:  A  Tale  of  Cressy  and  Poi- 
tiers. By  G.  A.  HENTY.  With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.  12mo, 
cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"A  story  of  very  great  interest  for  boys.  In  his  own  forcible  style 
the  author  has  endeavored  to  show  that  determination  and  enthusiasm 
can  accomplish  marvellous  results;  and  that  courage  is  generally  accom- 
panied by  magnanimity  and  centleness." — Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

Captain  Bayley's  Heir:     A  Tale  of  the  Gold  Fields  of 

California.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    Wi;h  illustrations  by  H.  M.  PAGET.    12moi 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Mr.  Henty  is  careful  to  mingle  instruction  with  entertainment;  and 
the  humorous  touches,  especially  in  the  sketch  of  John  Holl,  the  West- 
minster dustman,  Dickens  himself  could  hardly  have  excelled." — Chris- 
tian Leader. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUKT,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York, 


10     A.  L.  BTJRT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYST 

Budd  Boyd's  Triumph;  or,  The  Boy  Firm  of  Fox  Island. 

By  WILLIAM  P.  CHIPMAN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  Jl.OO. 

The  scene  of  this  story  is  laid  on  the  upper  part  of  Narragansctt  Bay, 
and  the  leading  incidents  have  a  strong  salt-water  flavor.  The  two 
boys,  Budd  Boyd  and  Judd  Floyd,  being  ambitious  and  clear  sighted, 
form  a  partnership  to  catch  and  sell  fish.  Budd's  pluck  and  good  sense 
carry  him  through  many  troubles.  In  following  the  career  of  the  boy 
firm  of  Boyd  &  Floyd,  the  youthful  reader  will  find  a  useful  lesson — 
that  industry  and  perseverance  are  bound  to  lead  to  ultimate  success. 

Lost  in  the  Canyon:     Sapi  Willett's  Adventures  on  the 

Great  Colorado.  By  ALFRED  R.  CALHOUN.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1 , 
This  story  hinges  on  a  fortune  left  to  Sam  Willett.  the  hero,  and  tb- 
fact  that  it  will  pass  to  a  disreputable  relative  if  the  lad  dies  before 
be  shall  have  reached  his  majority.  The  story  of  bis  father's  peril  and 
of  Sam's  desperate  trip  down  the  great  canyon  on  a  raft,  and  how  the 
party  finally  escape  from  their  perils  is  described  in  a  graphic  style 
that  stamps  Mr.  Calhoun  as  a  master  of  his  art. 

Captured  hy  Apes:      The  Wonderful  Adventures  of  a 

Young:  Animal  Trainer.    By  HARRY  PRENTICE.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated. 

price  $1.00. 

Philip  Garland,  a  young  animal  collector  and  trainer,  sets  sail  for 
Eastern  seas  in  quest  of  a  new  stock  of  living  curiosities.  The  vessel 
is  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  Borneo,  and  young  Garland  is  cast  ashore 
on  a  small  island,  and  cantured  by  the  apes  that  overrun  the  place. 
Very  novel  indeed  is  the  way  by  which  the  young  man  escapes  death. 
Mr.  Prentice  is  a  writer  of  undoubted  skill. 

Under  Drake's  Flag:     A  Tale  of  the  Spanish  Main. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.     With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.     12mo,  cloth, 

oliviae  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"There  is  not  a  dull  chapter,  nor,  indeed,  a  dull  page  in  the  book;  but 
the  author  has  so  carefully  worked  up  his  subject  that  the  exciting 
deeds  of  his  heroes  are  never  incongruous  nor  absurd." — Observer. 

By  Sheer  Pluck:    A  Tale  of  the  Ashanti  War.    By 

G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine 

edges,  price  $1.00. 

The  author  has  woven,  in  a  tale  of  thrilling  interest,  all  the  details 
of  the  Asbauti  campaign,  of  which  he  was  himself  a  witness. 

"Mr.  Henty  keeps  up  his  reputation  as  a  writer  of  boys'  stories.  'By 
Sheer  Pluck'  will  be  eagerly  read." — Athenaeum. 

With  Lee  in  Virginia :     A  Story  of  the  American  Civil 

War.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE     12mo, 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1 .00. 

"One  of  the  best  stories  for  Inds  which  Mr.  Plenty  has  yet  written. 
The  picture  is  full  of  life  and  color,  and  the  stirring  and  romantic  inci- 
dents are  skillfully  blended  with  the  personal  interest  and  charm  of  the 
story. " — Standard. 

By  England's  Aid;  or,  The  Freeing  of  the  Netherlands 

(1585-1604).    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  ALFRED  PEARSE.    12mo, 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"It  is  an  admirable  book  for  youngsters.  It  overflows  with  stirring 
incident  and  exciting  adventure,  and  tlio  color  of  the  era  and  of  the 
scene  are  finely  reproduced.  The  illustrations  add  to  its  attractiveness." — 
Boston  Gazette. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  r«-ci-i|it  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUB.T,  62-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


A.  t.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE.      11 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

By  Right  of  Conquest;  or,    With    Cortez  in   Mexico. 

By  G.   A.   HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  W.  S.  STACEY.    12mo,  cloth, 

olivine  edges,  price  $1.50. 

"  The  conquest  of  Mexico  by  a  small  band  of  resolute  men  under  the 
magnificent  leadership  of  Cortez  is  always  rightfully  ranked  among  the  most 
romantic  and  daring  exploits  in  history.  'By  Right  of  Conquest*  is  the 
neaiest  approach  to  a  perfectly  successful  historical  tale  that  Mr.  Henty 
has  yet  published."— Academy. 

For  Name  and  Fame;   or,  Through  Afghan  Passes. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.    12mo,  cloth, 

olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Not  only  a  rousing  story,  replete  with  all  the  varied  forms  of  excite- 
ment of  a  campaign,  but,  what  is  still  more  useful,  an  account  of  a 
territory  and  its  inhabitants  which  must  for  a  long  time  possess  a  supreme 
interest  for  Englishmen,  as  being  the  key  to  our  Indian  Empire." — 
Glasgow  Herald. 

The  Bravest  of  the  Brave;  or,  With  Peterborough  in 

Spain.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  H.  M.    PAGET.    12mo 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  81.00. 

"Mr.  Henty  never  loses  sight  of  the  moral  purpose  of  his  work — to 
enforce  the  doctrine  of  courage  and  truth,  mercy  and  loving  kindness, 
as  indispensable  to  the  making  of  a  gentleman.  Boys  will  read  'The 
Bravest  of  the  Brave*  with  pleasure  and  profit;  of  that  wo  are  quite 
sure." — Daily  Telegraph. 

The  Cat  of  Bubastes :  A  Story  of  Ancient  Egypt.    By 

G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00, 

"The  story,  from  the  critical  moment  of  the  killing  of  the  sacred  cat 

to  the   perilous  exodus  into  Asia  with  which  it  closes,   is  very   skillfully 

constructed  and  full  of  exciting  adventures.     It  Is  admirably  illustrated." 

— Saturday  Eeview. 

Bonnie  Prince  Charlie:    A  Tale  of  Fontenoy  and  Cul- 

loden.    By  G.  A.  HEXTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWE.    12mo, 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Ronald,  the  hero,  is  very  like  the  hero  of  'Quentin  Durward.'  The 
lad's  journey  across  France,  and  bis  hairbreadth  escapes,  makes  up  as 
good  a  narrative  of  the  kind  as  we  have  ever  read.  For  freshness  of 
treatment  and  variety  of  incident  Mr.  Henty  has  surpassed  himself."— 
Spectator. 

With  Ciive  in  India;  or,  The  Beginnings  of  an  Empire. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.    12mo,  cloth, 

olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"He  has  taken  a  period  of  Indian  history  of  the  most  vital  Impor- 
tance, and  he  has  embroidered  on  the  historical  facts  a  story  which  of 
Itself  is  deeply  interesting.  Young  people  assuredly  will  be  delighted 
with  the  volume." — Scotsman. 

In  the  Eeign  of  Terror:    The  Adventures  of  a  West- 
minster Boy.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  J.  SCHSNBERG. 
12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 
"Harry  Sandwith,  the  Westminster  boy,  may  fairly    be    said    to    beat 

Mr.    Henty's   record.     His    adventures   will   delight   boys   by   the   audacity 

and  peril  they  depict.     The  story  is  one  of  Mr.  Henty's  best." — Saturday 

Review. 

For  sale  by  all  book^'J'-rr,,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  tha 
publisher,  A.  L.  BTJUI,  Si-oS  Duaao  Street,  New  York, 


12       A.  L.  BURT'ri  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

The  Lion  of  the  North:    A  Tale  of  Gustavus  Adolphus 

and  the  "Wars  of  Religion.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  JOHN 

SCHSNBERG.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"A  praiseworthy  attempt  to  interest  British  youth  In  the  great  deeds 
of  the  Scotch  Brigade  in  the  wars  of  Gustavus  Adolphus.  Mackey,  Hep- 
burn, and  Munro  live  again  In  Mr.  Henty's  pages,  as  those  deserve  to 
live  whose  disciplined  bands  formed  really  the  germ  of  the  modern 
British  army." — Athenaeum. 

The  Dragon  and  the  Raven;   or,   The   Days  of  King 

Alfred.    By  Q.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  C.  J.  STANIULND.    12mo, 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

In  this  story  the  author  gives  an  account  of  the  fierce  struggle  be- 
tween Saxon  and  Dane  for  supremacy  in  England,  and  presents  a  vivid 
picture  of  the  misery  and  ruin  to  which  the  country  was  reduced  by  the 
ravages  of  the  sea-wolves.  The  story  is  treated  In  a  manner  most  at- 
tractive to  the  boyish  reader." — Athenaeum. 

The  Young  Carthaginian:     A  Story  of  the  Times  of 

Hannibal.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  C.  J.  STANILAND.  12mo, 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Well  constructed  and  vividly  told.  From  first  to  last  nothing  stays 
the  interest  of  the  narrative.  It  bears  us  along  as  on  a  stream  whose 
current  varies  In  direction,  but  never  loses  its  force." — Saturday  Review, 

In  Freedom's  Cause:     A  Story  of  Wallace  and  Bruce. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.    12mo,  cloth, 

olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"It  is  written  In  the  author's  best  style.  Full  of  the  wildest  and  most 
remarkable  achievements,  it  is  a  tale  of  great  interest,  which  a  bov,  once 
he  has  begun  it,  will  not  willingly  put  one  side." — The  Schoolmaster. 

With  Wolfe  in  Canada;  or,  The  Winning  of  a  Con- 
tinent. By  G.  A.  HENTY.  With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE.  12mo, 
cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"A  model  of  what  a  boys'  story-book  should  he.  Mr.  Henty  has  a 
great  power  of  infusing  into  the  dead  facts  of  history  new  life,  and  as 
no  pains  are  spared  by  him  to  ensure  accuracy  in  historic  details,  his 
books  supply  useful  aids  to  study  as  well  as  amusement." — School  Guard- 
ian. 

True  to  the  Old  Flag:     A  Tale  of  the  American  War  of 

Independence.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE. 

12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Does  Justice  to  the  pluck  and  determination  of  the  British  sollders 
during  the  unfortunate  struggle  against  American  emancipation.  The  son 
of  an  American  loyalist,  who  remains  true  to  our  flag,  falls  among  the 
hostile  red-skins  In  that  very  Huron  country  which  has  been  endeared 
to  us  by  the  exploits  of  Hawkeye  and  Chingachgook." — The  Times. 

A  Final  Reckoning:     A    Tale  of  Bush    Life  in  Aus- 
tralia.   By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  W.  B.  WOLLEN.    12mo, 
cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 
"All  boys  will  read  this  story  with  eager  and  unflagging  Interest.     The 

episodes  are   in    Mr.    Henty's   very   best   vein — graphic,   exciting,    realistic; 

and,  as  in  all  Mr.  Henty's  books,  the  tendency  Is  to  the  formation  of  an 

honorable,    manly,    and   even   heroic   character." — Birmingham   Post. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUKT,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNGt  PEOPLE.        13 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

The  lion  of  St.  Mark:    A  Tale  of  Venice  in  the  Four- 
teenth Century.    By  G.  A.  HKNTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNB. 
12ino,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  81.00. 
"Every  boy  should  read  'The  Won  of  St.  Mark."     Mr.  Henty  has  never 

produced  a  utory  more  delightful,  more  wholesome,  or  more  vivacious." — 

Saturday    Review. 

Facing  Death;  or,  The  Hero  of  the  Vaughan  Pit.    A 

Tule  of  the  Coal  Mines.    By  G.  A.  HKNTY.    With  illustrations  by  GORDON 

BKOWNK.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"The  tale  Is  well  written  nnd  well  Illustrated,  and  there  Is  much 
reality  In  the  characters.  If  any  father,  clergyman,  or  schoolmaster 
IN  on  the  lookout  for  n  good  book  to  give  as  a  present  to  a  boy  who  is 
worth  his  salt,  this  Is  the  book  we  would  recommend." — Standard. 

Maori  and  Settler:      A  Story  of  the  New  Zealand  War. 

By  G.  A.  HKNTY.    With  illustrations  by  ALFKK'D  PKARSE     12mo,  cloth, 

olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"In  the  adventures  among  the  Maoris,  there  are  many  breathless 
moments  In  which  the  odds  seem  hopelessly  against  the  party,  but  they 
succeed  In  establishing  themselves  happily  In  one  of  the  pleasant  New 
Zealand  valleys.  It  is  brimful  of  adventure,  of  humorous  and  interesting 
conversation,  and  vivid  pictures  of  colonial  life." — Schoolmaster. 

One  of  the  28th:    A  Tale  of  Waterloo.    By  G.  A. 

HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  W.  H.  OVBRHND.      12mo,    cloth,  olivine 

edges,  price  $1.00. 
"Written    \vllli    Homeric   vigor   and   heroic   Inspiration.     It   Is   grapble, 

Elcturesque,    mid   dramatically    effective     .     .     .     shows   us   Mr.    Heuty    at 
Is  best  and   brightest.     The  adventures  \vlll   hold  a   hoy   enthralled  as  he 
rushes   through    ihem    with    breathless   interest    'from   cover   to  cover.'  " — 
Observer. 

Orange  and  Green:     A  Tale  of  the  Boyne  and  Limer- 
ick.   By  G.  A.  HKNTY.     With  illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNK.     lUmo, 
cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 
"The  narrative  is  free    from    the  vice    of    prejudice,  and    ripples    with 

life  as  If  what.   Is  being  described  were  really  passing  before  the  eye." — 

Belfast   News-Letter, 

Through  the  Fray:    A  Story  of   the   Luddite   Riots. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations  by  H.  M.  PAQKT.    ISuio,  cloth,  olivine 

edges,  price  $1.00. 

4<Mr.  Henty  inspires  a  love  and  admiration  for  straightforwardness,  truth 
and  courage.  This  Is  one  of  the  best  of  the  many  good  books  Mr. 
Henty  has  produced,  and  deserves  to  be  classed  with  his  'Facing  Death.'  " 
— Standard. 

The  Young  Midshipman:  A  Story  of  the  Bombard- 
ment of  Alexandria.  With  illustrations.  12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges, 
price  $1.00. 

A  coast  fishing  lad,  by  an  act  of  heroism,  secures  the  Interest  of 
a  shipowner,  who  places  him  ns  an  apprentice  on  board  one  of  his  ships. 
In  company  with  two  of  his  fellow-apprcnt  Ices  he  Is  left  behind,  at 
Alexandria,  in  the  hands  of  the  revolted  Kg.vptlan  troops,  and  is  present 
through  the  bombardment  and  the  scenes  of  riot  and  bloodshed  which 
accompanied  it. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher.  A,  L.  BVBT,  62-68  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


14      A.  L.  BUKT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

In    Times    of    Peril.    A  Tale  of    India.    By  G.  A. 

HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  §1-00. 

The  hero  of  the  story  early  excites  our  admiration,  and  Is  altogether 
a  fine  character  such  as  boys  will  delight  in,  whilst  the  Story  of  the 
campaign  is  very  graphically  told." — St.  James's  Gazette, 

The  Cornet'  of  Horse :    A  Tale  of  Marlborough's  \Yars. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1. 

"Mr.  Henty  not  only  concocts  a  thrilling  tale,  he  weaves  fact  and  fiction 
together  with  so  skillful  a  hand  that  the  reader  cannot  help  acquiring  a 
just  and  clear  view  of  that  fierce  and  terrible  struggle  known  as  the 
Crimean  War." — Atherurum. 

The  Young  Franc-Tireurs :     Their  Adventures  in  the 

Franco-Prussian  War.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth, 

olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

'A  capital  book  for  boys.  It  is  bright  and  readable,  and  full  of  good 
sense  and  manliness.  It  teaches  pluck  and  patience  in  adversity,  and 
shows  that  right  living  leads  to  success." — Observer. 

The  Young  Colonists:     A  Story  of  Life  and  War  in 

South  Africa.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine 

edges,  price  $1.00. 

"No  boy  needs  to  have  any  story  of  Henty's  recommended  to  him,  and 
parents  who  do  not  know  and  buy  them  for  their  boya  should  be  ashamed 
of  themselves.  Those  to  whom  he  is  yet  unknown  could  not  make  a 
better  beginning  than  with  this  book. 

The  Young  Buglers.     A  Tale  of  the  Peninsular  War. 

By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1. 

"Mr.  Henty  is  a  giant  among  boys*  writers,  and  his  books  are  suffi- 
ciently popular  to  be  sure  of  a  welcome  anywhere.  In  stirring  interest, 
this  is  quite  up  to  the  level  of  Mr.  Henty's  former  historical  tales." — 
Saturday  Review. 

Sturdy  and  Strong;  or,  How  George  Andrews  Made  his 

Way.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo.  cloth,  olivine  edges, 

price  $1.00. 

"The  history  of  a  hero  of  everyday  life,  whose  love  of  tr  th,  clothing  of 
modesty,  and  innate  pluck,  carry  him,  naturally,  from  povrrty  to  afflu- 
ence. George  Andrews  is  an  example  of  character  with  nothing  to  cavil 
at,  and  stands  as  a  good  instance  of  chivalry  in  domestic  life." — The 
Empire. 

Among  Malay  Pirates.     A    Story  of    Adventure    and 

Peril.    By  G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges, 

price  $1.00. 

"Incident  succeeds  incident,  and  adventure  Is  piled  upon  adventure, 
and  at  the  end  the  reader,  be  he  boy  or  man,  will  have  experienced 
breathless  enjoyment  in  a  romantic  story  that  must  have  taught  him 
much  at  Its  close." — Army  and  Navy  Gazette. 

Jack  Archer.     A    Tale    of    the    Crimea.      BY  G.  A. 

HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Mr.  Henty  not  only  concocts  a  thrilling  i  ..!„•,  he  weaves  fact  and  fiction 
together  with  so  skillful  a  hand  that  the  reader  cannot  help  acquiring  a 
just  and  clear  view  of  that  fierce  and  terrible  struggle." — Athenaeum. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUBT,  58-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


A.  t.  BURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE.      15 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Friends,  Though  Divided.    A  Tale  of  the  Civil  War. 

By  Or.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.     12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1. 

"It  has  a  good  plot;  it  abounds  in  action;  the  scenes  are  equally  spirited 
and  realistic,  and  we  can  only  say  we  have  read  it  with  much  pleasure 
from  first  to  last." — Times. 

Out  on  the  Pampas;    or,    The    Young    Settlers.    By 

G.  A.  HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"A  really  noble  story,  which  adult  readers  will  find  to  the  full  as  satis- 
fying as  the  boys.  Lucky  boys!  to  have  such  a  caterer  aa  Mr.  G.  A, 
Henty." — Black  and  White. 

The  Boy  Knight:      A  Tale  of  the  Crusades.    By  G.  A. 

HENTY.    With  illustrations.    12mo,  cloth,  olivine  edges,  price  $1.00. 

"Of  stirring  episode  there  is  no  lack.  The  book,  with  its  careful  accu- 
racy and  its  descriptions  of  all  the  chief  battles;  will  give  many  a  school- 
boy his  first  roal  understanding  of  a  very  important  period  of  history." — 
St.  James's  Gazette. 

The  Wreck  of  the  Golden  Fleece.     The  Story  of  a  North 

Sea  Fisher  Boy.    By  ROBERT  LEIGHTON.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  81. 

A  description  of  life  on  the  wild  North  Sea. — the  hero  being  a  parson's 
son  who  is  appreciated  on  board  a  Lowcstoft  fishing  lugger.  The  lad  has 
to  suffer  many  buffets  from  his  shipmates,  while  the  storms  and  dangers 
which  he  braved  on  board  the  "North  Star"  are  set  forth  with  minute 
knowledge  and  intense  power.  The  wreck  of  the  "Golden  Fleece"  forms 
the  climax  to  a  thrilling  series  of  desperate  mischances. 

Olaf  the  Glorious.     A  Story  of  the  Viking  Age.     By 

ROBERT  LEIGHTON.    12ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  story  of  Olaf  the  Glorious,  King  of  Norvray,  opens  with  the  incident 
of  his  being  found  by  his  uncle  living  as  a  bond-slave  in  Esthonia;  then 
come  bis  adventures  as  a  Viking  and  his  raids  upon  the  coasts  of  Scot- 
land and  England,  his  victorious  battle  against  the  English  at  Maldou  in 
Essex,  his  being  bought  off  by  Ethelred  the  Unready,  and  his  conversion 
to  Christianity.  He  then  returns  to  Pagan  Norway,  is  accepted  as  king, 
and  converts  his  people  to  the  Christian  faith. 

To  Greenland  and  the  Pole.     A  story  of  Adventure  in 

the  Arctic  Regions.    By  GORDON  STABLES.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1. 

The  unfailing  fascination  of  Arctic  venturing  is  presented  in  this  sjory 
with  new  vividness.  It  deals  with  skilotming  in  the  north  of  Scotland, 
deer-hunting  in  Norway,  sealing  in  the  Arctic  Seas,  bear-stalking  on  the 
ice-floes,  the  hardships  of  a  journey  across  Greenland,  and  a  successful 
voyage  to  the  back  of  the  North  Pole.  This  is,  indeed,  a  real  sea-yarn 
by  a  real  sailor,  and  the  tone  is  as  bright  and  wholesome  as  the  adventures 
are  numerous. 

Yussuf  the  Guide.     A    Story   of   Adventure  in   Asia 

Minor.    By  GEORGE  MANVTLI.E  FENN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  pricf;  $1.00. 

This  story  deals  with  the  stirring  incidents  in  the  career  of  a  lad  who  has 
been  almost  given  over  by  the  doctors,  but  who  rapidly  recovers  health 
and  strength  in  a  journey  through  Asia  Minor.  The  adventures  are  many, 
and  culminate  in  the  travellers  being  snowed  up  for  the  winter  in  the 
mountains,  from  which  they  escape  while  their  captors  are  waiting  for 
the  ransom  that  does  not  come. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellf  rs,  or  scut  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BURI,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


16     A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Qrettir  the  Outlaw.    A  Story  of  Iceland.    By  S.  BAR- 
ING-GOULD.   12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  is  the  boys'  book  of  the  year.  That  is.  of  course,  as  much  as 
to  say  that  it  will  do  for  men  grown  as  well  as  juniors.  It  is  told  in 
simple,  straightforward  English,  as  all  stories  should  be,  and  it  has  a 
treshness  and  freedom  which  make  it  irresistible." — National  Observer. 

Two    Thousand    Years  Ago.      The    Adventures    of    a 

Roman  Boy.    By  A.  J.  CHURCH.    ISfmo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  fl.OO. 

"Prof.  Church  has  in  this  story  sought  to  revivify  that  most  interesting 
period,  the  last  days  of  the  Roman  Republic.  The  book  is  extremely  en- 
tertaining as  well  as  useful:  there  is  a  wonderful  freshness  in  the  Roman 
scenes  and  characters." — Times. 

Nat  the  Naturalist.     A  Boy's  Adventure  in  the  East- 
ern Seas.    By  GEORGE  MAKVILLE  FENN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1. 
Nat  and  his  uncle  Dick  go  on  a  voyage  to  the  remoter  islands  of  the 
Eastern  seas,   and  their  adventures  are  told  in  a  truthful  and  vastly  in- 
teresting fashion.     The  descriptions  of  Mr.    Ebony,   their  black  comrade, 
and  of  the  scenes  of  savage  life,  are  full  of  genuine  humor. 

The  Log  of  the  Flying  Fish.      A  Story  of  Peril  and 

Adventure.    By  HARRY  COLLINQWOOD.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1. 

"This  story  is  full  of  even  more  vividly  recounted  adventures  than  those 
which  charmed  so  many  boy  readers  in  'Pirate  Island"  and  'Congo  Rovers." 
.  .  .  There  is  a  thrilling  adventure  on  the  precipices  of  Mount  Everest, 
when  the  ship  floats  off  and  providentially  returns  by  force  of  'gravita- 
tion.' " — Academy. 

The  Congo  Rovers.    A  Story  of  the   Slave   Squadron. 

By  HARRY  COLLINQWOOD.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  fl.OO. 

"The  scene  of  this  tale  is  laid  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa,  and  in  the 
lower  reaches  of  the  Congo;  the  characteristic  scenery  of  the  great  river 
being  delineated  with  wonderful  accuracy.  Mr.  Collingwood  carries  us  off 
for  another  cruise  at  sea,  in  'The  Congo  riovers,'  and  boys  will  need  no 
pressing  to  join  the  daring  crew,  which  seeks  adventures  and  meets  with 
any  number  of  them." — The  Times. 

Boris  the  Bear  Hunter.    A  Tale  of  Peter  the  Great  and 

His  Times.    By  FRED  WISHAW.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 
"This  is  a  capital  story.     The  characters  are  marked  and  lifelike,  and  It 
is  full  of  incident  and  adventure." — Standard. 

Michael  Strogoff ;  or,  The  Courier  of  the  Czar.    By 

JULES  VEBNE.    I2mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"The  story  is  full  of  originality  and  vigor.  The  characters  are  lifelike, 
there  is  plenty  of  stirring  incident,  the  Interest  is  sustained  throughout, 
and  every  boy  will  enjoy  following  the  fortunes  of  the  hero." — Journal  of 
Education. 

Mother  Carey's  Chicken.     Her  Voyage  to  the  Unknown 

Isle.    By  GEORGE  MANVILLE  FENN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  fl.OO. 

"Undoubtedly  one  of  the  best  Mr.  Penn  has  written.  The  incidents  are 
of  thrilling  Interest,  while  the  characters  are  drawn  with  a  care  and  com- 
]>li  ifiiess  rarely  found  in  a  boy's  book." — Literary  World. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUET,  52-58  Duane  Street,  Tfew  York. 


A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE.      17 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Dick  Sand;    or,  A    Captain    at    Fifteen.     By  JULES 

VERNE.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"Jules  Verne  himself  never  constructed  a  more  marvellous  tale.  It  con- 
tains the  strongly  marked  features  that  are  always  conspicuous  In  hts 
stories—  a  racy  humor,  the  manly  vigor  of  his  sentiment,  and  wholesome 
moral  lessons."  —  Christian  Leader. 

Erling  the  Bold.     A  Tale  of  the    Norse    Sea    Kings. 

By  R.  M.  BALLANTYNE.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  volume  makes  a  really  fascinating  book,  worthy  of  its  telling 
title.  There  is,  we  venture  to  say,  not  a  dull  chapter  in  the  book,  not 
a  page  which  will  not  bear  a  second  reading."  —  Guardian. 

Masterman  Heady;  or,  The  Wreck  of  the  Pacific.     By 

CAPTAIN  MARRYAT.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"As  racy  a  tale  of  life  at  sea  and  adventure  as  we  have  met  with  for 
some  time.  .  .  .  Altogether  the  sort  of  book  that  boys  will  revel  In." 
—  Athenaeum. 

The  Green  Mountain  Boys.    A  Tale  of  the  Early  Set- 

tlement of  Vermont.    By  D.  P.  THOMPSON.    IStno,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1. 

A  story  of  very  great  interest  for  boys.  In  his  own  forcible  style  the 
author  has  endeavored  to  show  that  determination  and  patriotic  enthu- 
siasm can  accomplish  marvellous  results.  This  story  gives  a  graphic  ac- 
count of  the  early  settlers  of  Vermont,  and  their  patriotic  efforts  in  d»- 
fendSng  their  homes  from  the  invasions  of  enemies. 

Every  Inch  a  Sailor.     By   GORDON   STABLES.      12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"A  story  which  is  quite  as  good  in  its  way  as  'Treasure  Island,'  and  is 
full  of  adventure  of  a  stirring  yet  most  natural  kind.  Although  it  is 
primarily  a  boys'  book,  it  is  a  real  godsend  to  the  elderly  reader."  — 
Evening-  Times. 

The  Golden  Galleon.    A  Narrative    of    Adventure  on 

Her  Majesty's  Ship  the  Revenge.    By  ROBERT  LEIQHTON.     12mo,  cloth, 

illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  story  should  add  considerably  to  Mr.  Leighton's  high  reputation. 
Excellent  in  every  respect,  it  contains  every  variety  of  incident.  The  plot 
is  very  cleverly  devised,  and  the  types  of  the  North  Sea  sailors  are 
capital."  —  The  Times. 

The  Gorilla  Hunters.     A  Tale  of  the  Wilds  of  Africa. 

By  R.  M.  BALLANTYNE.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"We  conscientiously  belive  that  boys  will  find  it  capital  reading.  It  is 
full  of  incident  and  mystery,  and  the  mystery  is  kept  up  to  the  last 
moment.  It  is  full  of  stirring  adventure,  daring  and  many  escapes;  and 
it  has  a  historical  interest."  —  Times. 

Gascoyne    the    Sandalwood    Trader.    By  E.  M. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 


"One  of  the  best  stories  of  seafaring  life  and  adventure  which  have 
appeared  this  season.  Entertaining  in  the  highest  degree  from  beginning 
to  end,  and  full  of  adventure  which  is  all  the  livelier  for  its  close  con- 
nection with  history."  —  Spectator. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A,  L.  BTJRT,  68-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


18     A.  L.  HURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Two  Years  Before  the  Mast.    A  Personal  Narrative  of 

Life  at  Sea.    By  B.  H.  DANA,  JR.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"One  of  the  very  best  books  for  boys  that  we  have  seen  for  a  long  time: 
Its  author  stands  far  in  advance  of  any  other  writer  for  boys  as  a  teller 
of  stories  of  the  sea." — The  Standard. 

The  Young  Rajah.    A  Story  of  Indian  Life.    By  W. 

H.  G.  KINGSTON.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  story  will  place  the  author  at  once  in  the  front  rank.  It  is  full 
of  life  and  adventure,  and  the  interest  is  sustained  without  a  break  from 
first  to  last." — Standard. 

How  Jack  Mackenzie  Won  His  Epaulettes.    A  Story 

of  the  Crimean  War.     By  GORDON  STABLES.     12ino,  cloth,  illustrated, 

price  $1.00. 

"This  must  rank  among  the  few  undeniably  good  boys'  booUs.  Bo 
will  be  a  very  dull  boy  indeed  who  lays  it  down  without  wishing  that 
It  had  gone  on  for  at  least  100  pages  more." — Mail. 

The  King's  Pardon.    A  Story  of  Land  and  Sea.    By 

ROBERT  OVERTON.    18mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"An  excellent  story,  the  interest  being  sustained  from  first  to  last. 
This  is,  both  in  its  intention  and  the  way  the  story  is  told,  one  of  the 
best  books  of  its  kind  which  has  come  before  us  this  year." — Saturday 
He  view. 

Under  the  Lone  Star.    A  Story  of  the  Revolution  in 

Nicaragua.    By  HERBERT  HAYNES.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  81.00. 

"We  have  not  of  late  come  across  a  historical  fiction,  whether  intended 
for  boys  or  for  men,  which  deserves  to  be  so  heartily  and  unreservedly 
praised  as  regards  plot,  incidents,  and  spirit  as  this  book.  It  is  its  au- 
thor's masterpiece  as  yet." — Spectator. 

Geoff  and  Jim:  A  Story  of  School  Life.     By  ISMAY 

THORN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"This  is  a  prettily  told  story  of  the  life  spent  by  two  motherless  bairns 
at  a  small  preparatory  school.  Both  Geoff  and  Jim  are  very  lovable  char- 
acters, only  Jim  is  the  more  so;  and  the  scrapes  he  gets  into  and  the 
trials  he  endures  will,  no  doubt,  interest  a  large  circle  of  young  readers." 
— Church  Times. 

Jack:  A  Topsy  Turvy  Story.     By  C.  M.   CRAWLEY- 

BOEVEY.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"The  illustrations  deserve  particular  mention,  as  they  add  largely  to 
the  Interest  of  this  amusing  volume  for  children.  Jack  falls  asleep  with 
his  mind  full  of  the  subject  of  the  fishpond,  and  is  very  much  surprised 
presently  to  find  himself  an  inhabitant  of  Waterworld,  where  he  goes 
through  wonderful  and  edifying  adventures.  A  handsome  and  pleasant 
book." — Literary  World. 

Black  Beauty.     The  Autobiography  of  a  Horse.     By 

ANNA  SEWELL.    l2mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

This  is  the   life   story   of  a   horse;     how   he   was   ill   treated   and   well 
cared   for.     The  experiences  of  Black   Beauty,   Ginger,    and   Merrylegs  are 
extremely  Interesting.     Wherever  children  are,  whether  boys  or  girls,  there 
this  Autobiography  should  be.     It  inculcates  habits  of  kindness  to  all  i 
bers  of  the  animal  creation.     The  literary  merit  of  the  book  is  excellent. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  I 
publisher,  A.  L.   BUBT,   62-58  Duane  Streat,   New  York. 


A.  L.  BURT/S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE.        19 


BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Hopsa  the  Fairy.    By  JEAN  INGELOW.     12mo,  cloth, 

illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"Mrs.  Ingelow  is,  to  our  mind,  the  most  charming  of  all  living  writers 
for  children,  and  'Mopsa'  alone  ought  to  give  her  a  kind  of  pre-emptive 
right  to  the  love  and  gratitude  of  our  young  folks.  It  requires  genius 
to  conceive  a  purely  imaginary  work  which  must  of  necessity  deal  with 
the  supernatural,  without  running  into  a  mere  riot  of  fantastic  absurdity; 
but  genius  Mrs.  Ingelow  has,  and  the  story  of  'Jack'  is  as  careless  and 
joyous,  but  as  delicate  as  a  picture  of  childhood." — Eclectic. 

Carrots:  Just  a  Little  Boy.    By  MRS.  MOLESWORTH. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"One  of  the  cleverest  and  most  pleasing  stories  it  has  been  our  good 
fortune  to  meet  with  for  some  time.  Carrots  and  his  sister  are  delight- 
ful little  beings,  whom  to  read  about  is  at  once  to  become  very  fond  of. 
A  genuine  children's  book;  we've  seen  'em  seize  it,  and  read  it  greedily. 
Children  are  first-rate  critics,  and  thoroughly  appreciate  Walter  Crane's 
illustrations. ' ' — Punch. 

Larry's  Luck.     By  the  author  of  "Miss  Toosey's  Mis- 
sion."   13mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"It  is  believed  that  this  story,  by  this  favorably  known  author  of 
'Miss  Toosey's  Mission,'  will  be  found  both  highly  interesting  and  instruc- 
tive to  the  young.  Whether  the  readers  are  nine  years  old,  or  twice  as 
old,  they  must  enjoy  this  pretty  volume." — The  Examiner. 

A  Child's  Christinas:  A  Sketch  of  Boy  Life.     By  MRS. 

MOLESWORTH.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 
"This  is  another  of  those  delightful  juvenile  stories  of  which  this  author 
has   written   so   many.     It   is  a   fascinating   little   book,    with   a   charming 
plot,   a  sweet,   pure  atmosphere,   and   teaches  a  wholesome  moral  in  the 
most  winning  manner." — Gazette. 

Chunk,  Fusky  and  Snout.     A  Story  of  Wild  Pigs  for 

Little  People.    By  GERALD  YOUNG.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"The  story  is  an  extremely  interesting  one,  full  of  incident,  told  in  a 

quiet,    healthful    way,    and   with    a    great   deal   of    pleasantly    interfused 

information  about  wild  pigs  and  their  ways.     It  is  sure  to  interest  both 

boys  and  girls." — Christian  Union. 

Daddy's  Boy.     By  L.  T.  MEADE.     12mo,  cloth,  illus- 
trated, price  75  cents. 

"A  charming  story  of  child  life.  Little  Sir  Rowland  is  one  of  the 
most  fascinating  of  the  misunderstood  child  heroes  of  the  day.  The  quaint 
doings  and  imaginings  of  this  gentle,  lovable,  but  highly  original  child  are 
introduced  by  Mrs.  Meade,  with  all  her  accustomed  pathos.  —Guardian. 

Adventures    of    Prince    Prigio.     BY    ANDREW    LANG. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  pi  ice  75  cents. 

"This  book  has  so  much  charm  of  style  and  good  writing  that  it  will  be 
eagerly  read  by  many  other  than  the  young  folk  for  whom  it  Is  intended." 
— Black  and  White. 

A  Flock  of  Four.     A  Story  for  Boys  and  Girls.     By 

ISMAY  THORN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"As  a  gift  book  for  boys  it  is  among  the  best  new  books  of  the  kind. 
The  story  is  Interesting  and  natural,  from  first  to  last." — Gazette. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUET,  52-58  Duane  Street,  Hew  York. 


20      A.  L.  BURT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

A  Flat  Iron  for  a  Farthing.     The  Story  of  an  Only 

Son.    By  JULIANA  HORATIA  EWING.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"A  Tcry  good  book  it  is,  full  of  adventure,  graphically  told.     The  styl>j 

Is  just  what  it  should  be;     simple   but   not   bold,    full  of  pleasant  humor, 

and  with  some   pretty  touches  of  feeling.     Like   all  Mrs.   Ewlng's  tales, 

it  Is  sound,  sensible,  and  wholesome." — Times. 

The  Greek  Heroes.    Fairy  Tales  for  My  Children.    By 

CHARLES  KINGSLEY.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 
"We  do  not  think  these  heroic  stories  have  ever  been  more  attractively 
told.  .  .  There  is  a  deep  under-current  of  religious  feeling  traceable 
throughout  Its  pages  which  is  sure  to  influence  young  readers  power- 
fully. One  of  the  children's  books  that  will  surely  become  a  classic." — 
London  Review. 

Jackanapes.     BY  JULIANA   HORATIA  EWING.     12mo, 

.  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"This  is  one  of  Mrs.  Ewing's  charming  little  stories  for  young  children. 
The  narrative  ...  is  full  of  interest  for  its  real  grace  and  delicacy, 
and  the  exquisiteness  and  purity  of  the  English  in  which  it  is  written." — 
Boston  Advertiser. 

Princess  and  Curdie.    By  GEORGE  MACDONALD.     12rao, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"One  of  the  cleverest  and  most  pleasing  stories  it  has  been  our  good 
fortune  to  meet  with  for  some  time.  The  Princess  and  Curdie  are  delight- 
ful little  beings,  whom  to  read  about  is  at  once  to  become  very  fond  of." 
—Examiner. 

Peter  the  Pilgrim.     The  Story  of  a  Boy  and  His  Pet 

Rabbit.    By  L.  T.  MEADK.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"Little  Peter,  with  his  soft  heart,  clever  head,  and  brave  spirit  Is  no 
morbid  presentment  of  the  angelic  child  'too  good  to  live,'  and  who  is 
certainly  a  nuisance  on  earth,  but  a  charming  creature,  if  not  a  por- 
trait, whom  it  is  a  privilege  to  meet  even  in  fiction." — The  Academy. 

We  and  the  World.     A  Story  for  Boys.     By  JULIANA 

HORATIA  EWING.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"The  author  has  evidently  studied  the  ways  and  tastes  of  children  and 
got  at  the  secret  of  amusing  them;  and  has  succeeded  in  what  is  not 
so  easy  a  task  as  it  may  seem — in  producing  a  really  good  children's 
book." — Daily  Telegraph. 

little    Ivan's    Hero.     A    Story    of    Child    Life.     By 

HELEN  MILMAN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"We  should  imagine  those  queer  folk  indeed  who  could  not  read  this 
story  with  eager  interest  and  pleasure,  be  they  boys  or  girls,  young  or 
old.  We  highly  eommond  the  style  in  which  the  book  is  written,  and  the 
spirit  which  pervades  it." — World. 

Dick,  Marjorie  and  Fidge.     The  Wonderful  Adventures 

of  Three  Little  People.    By  G.  E.  FARKOW.    13mo,  cloth,  illust'd,  price  75c. 

"...  To  the  young,  for  whom  it  is  especially  intended,  this  is  a 
most  interesting  book  of  adventures,  well  told,  and  a  pleasant  book  to 
take  up  when  their  wish  is  to  while  away  a  weary  half-hour.  We  have 
seen  no  prettier  gift-book  for  a  long  time." — Athenteum. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUKT,  68-58  Duane  Street,  New  York, 


A.  L.  BURT'S  BOOKS  FOE  YOUNG  PEOPLE.        21 


A  Wonder  Book:   For  Boys  and  Girls.     Comprising 

Stories  of  Classical  Fables.     By  NATHANIEL  HAWTHORNE.     12mo,  cloth 
illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"A  beautiful  little  story.  It  will  be  read  with  delight  by  every  child 
into  whose  hands  it  is  placed."  —  Gazette. 

My  Dog  Plato:  Kis  Adventures  and  Impressions.     By 

H.  M.  CORNWALL  LEGH.     12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 
"A  capital   story,   and  one  we  heartily  commend  to  boy   readers,   both 
gentle  and  simple."  —  Guardian. 

Squib  and  Kis  Friends.     A  Story  for  Children.     By 

ELLEN  EVERETT  GREEN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 
"This  book  will  please  by  its  simplicity,  its  tenderness,  and  Its  healthy 
interesting   motive.     It   is   admirably   written."  —  Scotsman. 

Tom's   Opinion.     The   Story   of   a   Boys'    School.     By 

the  author  of  "Miss  Toosey's  Mission."    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75c. 
"A    beautiful    little    story.     ...     It    will    be    read    with    delight    by 
every  boy  into  whose  hands  it  is  placed."  —  Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

Robin's   Ride.     A   Story  for   Children.     By   ELLINOE 

D.  ADAMS.    12ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"It  is  a  first-rate  boys'  book.  It  is  a  capital  story;  the  characters  arc 
well  drawn,  and  the  incidents  are  perfectly  natural."  —  Times. 

Peter  and  Tom.     A   Story  for  Boys.     By  BELLE   S. 

CRAGIN.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

Peter  and  Tom  were  unlikely  heroes,  particularly  in  the  direction  of 
heroism.  but  the  proper  chord  was  touched  in  each  of  their  lives,  and 
through  many  trials  and  adventures  they  developed  Christian  principles  and 
successful  business  traits. 

nurse   Heatherdale's   Story.    By   MRS.  MOLESWOKTH. 

12ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"  'Nurse  Heatherdale's  Story'  is  all  about  a  small  boy,  who  was  goc  a 
(•Tr>u<Tli,  yet  was  always  getting  into  some  trouble  through  complications 
in  which  he  was  not  to  blame.  He  is  an  orphan,  though  he  is  cared  for  in 
a  way  by  relations,  who  are  not  so  very  rich,  yet  are  looked  on  as  well 
lixod.  After  many  youthful  trials  and  disappointments  he  falls  into  a 
big  stroke  of  good  luck,  which  lifts  him  and  goes  to  make  other*  happy." 

—  Commercial  Advertiser. 

The  Last  of  the  Hugger-muggers.     A  Giant  Story.     By 

CHRISTOPHER  P.  CRAUCH.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 
"Frosh   and   charming   In   style,   with   fun   that   is   never   forced,    pathos 
that  is  always  genuine,  and  with  a  distinctly  wholesome  purpose.     This  is 
certain  to  be  a  favorite  with  boys."—  Literary  World. 

The    Hunting    of    the    Snark.     By    LEWIS    CARROLL, 

author  of  "Alice  in  Wonderland."    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"Whether  as  regarding  author  or  illustrator,  this  book  Is  a  Jewel 
rarely  to  be  found  nowadays.  Not  a  whit  inferior  to  its  predecessor  iu 
jrrand  extravagance  of  imagination,  and  delicious  allegorical  nonsense." 

—  Quarterly  Review. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BtTRT,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


22      A.  L.  BUKT'S  BOOKS  FOR  YOU.NG  PEOPLE. 
BOOKS  FOR  GIRLS. 

Alice's  Adventures  in  Wonderland.  By  LEWIS  CABROLI* 

12mo,  cloth,  42  illustrations,  price  75  cents. 

"From  first  to  last,  almost  without  exception,  this  story  is  delightfully 
droll,  humorous  and  illustrated  In  harmony  with  the  story." — New  York 
Express. 

Through  the  Looking  Glass,  and  What  Alice  Found 

There.    By  LEWIS  CARROLL.    12nio,  cloth,  50  illustrations,  price  75  cents. 
"A  delight  alike  to  the  young  people  and  their  elders,  extremely  funny 
both  In  text  and  Illustrations." — Boston  Express. 

Little   Lucy's   Wonderful   Globe.    By  CHARLOTTE   M. 

YONGE.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 

"This  story  Is  unique  among  tales  Intended  for  children,  alike  for  pleas- 
ant Instruction,  quaiutness  of  humor,  gentle  pathos,  and  the  subtlety  with 
which  lessons  moral  and  otherwise  are  conveyed  to  children,  and  perhaps 
to  their  seniors  as  well." — The  Spectator. 

Joan's  Adventures  at  the  North  Pole  and  Elsewhere. 

BY  ALICE  CORKRAN.    ISmo.  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  wius. 

"Wonderful  as  the  adventures  of  Joan  are,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
they  are  very  naturally  worked  out  and  very  plausibly  presented.  Alto- 
gether this  Is  an  excellent  story  for  girls."— Saturday  Review. 

Count  Up  the  Sunny  Days :    A  Story  for  Girls  and  Boys. 

By  C.  A.  JONES.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  75  cents. 
"An   unusually   good   children's   story." — Glasgow   Herald. 

The  Heir  of  Redclyffe.     By  CHARLOTTE   M.   YONGE. 

I2mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  pi-ice  $1.00. 

"A  narrative  full  of  interest  from  first  to  last.  It  is  told  clearly  and  i:i 
a  straightforward  manner,  and  arrests  the  attention  of  the  reader  at  once, 
so  that  one  fools  afresh  the  unspeakable  pathos  of  the  story  to  the  end."— 
London  Graphic. 

The   Dove  in  the   Eagle's   Nest.     By    CHARLOTTE    M. 

YONOK.    12ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"Among  all  the  modern  writers  we  believe  Miss  Yonge  first,  not  in 
genius,  but  in  this,  that  she  employs  her  great  abilities  for  a  high  and 
noble  purpose.  We  know  of  few  modern  writers  whose  works  may  be  HO 
safely  commondt'd  as  hers." — Cleveland  Times. 

Jan  of  the  Windmill.     A  Story  of  the  Plains.     By  MRS. 

J.  H.  EWINO.        12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"Never  has  Mrs.  Kwlr.g  published  a  more  charming  volume,  and  that 
Is  saying  a  very  ^re;it  deal.  From  the  first  to  the  last  the  book  over- 
flows >vith  the  strange  knowledge  of  child-nature  which  KM  rsirely  sur- 
vives childhood:  anu  moreover,  with  Inexhaustible  quiet  l;umor,  which 
Is  never  anything:  but  innocent  and  well-bred,  never  priggish,  and  never 
clumsy. ' ' — Academy. 

A  Sweet  Girl  Graduate.     By  L.  T.  MEADE.     12mo,  cloth, 

illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"One  of  this  popular  author's  best.  The  characters  are  well  imagined 
and  drawn.  The  story  moves  with  plenty  of  spirit  and  the  interest  does 
not  flag  until  the  end  too  quickly  conies." — Providence  Journal. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  :;.-nt  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUK.T,  62-68  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


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